Report Coyote Sightings through City’s Website

In November 2010, the City adopted a policy guiding its response to the presence of coyotes in the community. The policy spells out specific actions that should be taken by the City if certain issues are occurring. The policy’s actions depend upon receiving accurate data about coyote activities, and the City encourages you to participate in this process.

The Coyote Incident Report Form is an online questionnaire available on the City’s website that you can use to help report coyote incidents with questions specific to the incident. However, please note that if a coyote is acting in a threatening manner toward a human, you should call 9-1-1, and an officer will respond. If you do not have internet access but would like to report a coyote incident, you can call the Police Department at 630-260-2161.

Besides reporting incidents, it is important for you to understand how to discourage coyotes from becoming comfortable in your neighborhood. Coyotes can become a nuisance when they have easy access to food in residential areas, such as pet food or garbage. To discourage their presence:

• DO feed pets indoors or promptly remove dishes when pets complete their meal outside. Store bags of pet food indoors.
• DO clear brush and dense weeds from around property. This deprives rodents of shelter and reduces protective cover for coyotes.
• DO use trash barrels equipped with tight clamping devices on the lids, which will prevent spills should they be tipped over by large animals.
• DO try to educate your friends and neighbors about the problems associated with feeding coyotes. If you belong to a homeowner’s association or neighborhood watch, bring up the subject during one of the meetings or encourage them to watch the videos provided on the City’s website at www.wheaton.il.us/coyote.
• DO NOT feed or provide water for coyotes or other wildlife. This practice abnormally attracts coyotes and promotes increased numbers of rodents, birds, snakes and other creatures that can provide major portions of the coyote’s natural diet.

In addition, while pets do not comprise a large portion of a coyote’s diet, it is important to watch your pets, even in a fenced yard. Coyotes are opportunistic and will go for easy prey, such as an unattended pet.

Many wildlife experts believe that coyote "hazing" can help deter coyotes. This is the term used for actions such as making loud noises or threatening gestures toward coyotes in an attempt to change the behaviors of habituated coyotes and reestablish a healthy fear of humans. Hazing is not intended to physically harm coyotes. If you encounter a coyote, make yourself look as large as possible, and use the hazing techniques mentioned above.

For more information, see the Coyote Information section of the City's website.