The Coyotes Are Coming! (Actually, They Are Already Here)
By JoshMogerman in News on Jan 25, 2015 7:00PM
We’ve long been writing about the creatures at Chicago’s margins for years. We love the idea that despite all the concrete and steel, nature finds a way and wild things are making it in our town.
Chicago is home to the world’s biggest urban coyote study. It has been an interesting thing to watch over the years as the beasties have shown up floating on the Lake, dashing along State Street, trying to hop Metra trains, trapped in restaurant coolers and chomping on yip-yapping suburban dogs.
But wow, as soon as Ohio State University and NatGeo put a crittercam on just one wild canid, people lose their shit.
We know…it’s the Internet. Animal videos conquer all and certainly a coyote-eye view of Chicago is engaging. But...seriously? The Trib. NBC Nightly News!? The Frickin’ Today Show!?!? Despite the fact thousands of these dog cousins have lived in our town for years, folks are amazed at the concept that some semblance of nature can exist in our megalopolis. And from the stories, you would think they represent some sort of invading arf-arf army.
Fear not Chicago. The coyotes have been here for a long time and most of you did not notice them (though, check the Chicagoist Flickr pool and you’ll see plenty of sharp-eyed photogs have spotted the critters). Despite the hype, they mean you no harm.
So, familiarize yourself with the term “ecological services.” The coyotes avoid you—but they seek out rats, mice and bunnies. By munching on all those little critters that can make life miserable for homeowners and gardeners (not to mention folks interested in public health), the coyotes more than earn their keep—and some emerging research seems to show them doing a number on feral cats which allows songbirds to proliferate. What more do you want?
Chicago should embrace being a coyote kind of town…but don’t take it from us—give a listen to the experts. Next weekend Cook County Forest Preserve District biologists, partners in that long-running (and super cool) urban coyote study in Chicago, will be sharing their latest findings in a conference at UIC. For now, enjoy the late to the party Today Show and their segment on the much buzzed about coyote cam below.
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