Coyote Den Discovered In NW Suburban Woods ...........

Woman Says She And Her Dog Were Chased By Coyote

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. (STNG) ― Following a report that a woman and her dog were chased by a coyote in a forest preserve near Buffalo Grove, rangers checked the area and found a coyote den. Forest Preserve authorities are advising people to be careful in the area and keep pets leashed.

Buffalo Grove police said last week the woman and her dog were reportedly chased by a coyote while walking in the forest preserve, a 387-acre island with trails for hikers, walkers and bikers. Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve is located on the southern border of Lake County near Buffalo Grove and Long Grove.

Lake County Forest Preserve rangers checked the area and found a mother coyote and her pups in a den, according to police and the Forest Preserve. The den was found near the preserve's loop trail west of Schaeffer Road.

"Sections of trails near the den may have high coyote activity," according to an alert from the Lake County Forest Preserves. While the animals are no danger to humans or their dogs "as long as we work together to continue to reinforce their natural fear of people," the alert said, "other coyote family members will chase off threats to the pups."

Area residents are advised to keep dogs on leashes at all times, since coyotes are not afraid of dogs "and view your dog as a threat."

The Forest Preserve says though "you may see coyote family members warily watching you -- this is simply out of curiosity and not out of aggression. If a coyote approaches you, simply scare it away by waving your arms in the air and shouting. This reinforces the animal's natural fear of people."

The coyote pups should be able to leave the den by June 30, according to the Forest Preserve, at which time there is expected to be less coyote activity in the area.