Chicago Sub Shop Receives Friendly Visit from Coyote

Employees and customers alike received a shock yesterday when a coyote walked through a propped open door at a downtown Quiznos on Tuesday. "It wasn't aggressive at all," restaurant manager Bina Patel told the Chicago Tribune. "It was just looking around." (CNN News Story) At the sight of the coyote, employees and customers calmly evacuated the restaurant. Some people even took time to finish their lunch and snap photos of the rare occurrence. No one was injured and the coyote decided to simply lie down near a cooler full of drinks.

According to CNN News, "Animal control officers took the passive coyote away after about 40 minutes, after a curious crowd had gathered outside. 'This one definitely I will definitely remember forever. A coyote in downtown Chicago,' Quiznos employee Rick Torres told WLS-TV." (CNN News Story)
Chicago captures 10 to 15 coyotes each year, according to Anne Kent, director of Chicago Animal Care and Control. "Veterinarians will examine the coyote and, if he is not injured, release him into the wild." (CNN News Story) As of Wednesday, April 4, 2007, there is no word on the actual fate of the coyote.

As populations of animals such as coyotes recover and even thrive, and as suburbs spread to increasingly wooded areas, the interaction between animals such as coyotes and humans will become more common. While this trend is particularly noticeable out west with regards to cougars, panthers, and wolves, the Midwest has its own wildlife issues as well. For example, there is now open hunting on feral pigs in Michigan after the animals began a course of destruction in many areas of the state in the past few years.

This particular story is a good example of why local and state agencies protecting local wildlife need to review policies, current trends, and emergency measures relating to dangerous wild animals such as coyotes entering an urbanized area. The need for wildlife management will continue to grow as the boundaries between forest and city evolve.

Fortunately, many stories such as these don't end with either human or animal hurt or killed. However, as such incidents increase, the likelihood of harm to both human and animal life will increase. It is always a good idea to be vigilant outdoors, as well as to take measures to protect both yourself, as well as your pets, in the event of such an occurrence. Common sense, as it was exhibited in this case, goes a long way.