With the rise in home construction and open space depletion in and around the Mundelein area, the wildlife population is forced to move into the residential communities. Residents should learn to live in harmony with the wildlife around us. This includes animal-proofing your home to prevent wildlife from entering.
The wildlife animal control service allows residents to borrow a live-trap from the police department in an effort to control raccoons, possums, and skunks that are causing a serious problem on your property. Village traps are in limited supply, and are issued for a limited amount of time on a first-come first-serve basis. During high activity periods, the waiting list for the use of traps may be lengthy.
This program is not designed to deplete the village of wildlife, however, most animals that are trapped are subsequently faced with euthanasia.
If these animals are causing damage to your property, you may want to check with your homeowners insurance to see if they would cover or assist in the cost of hiring a company specialized in animal capture/removal.
Coyotes and foxes do reside in and around the Mundelein area, and are sometimes seen passing through the village. The village does not trap for these types of animals. To learn more about coyotes and understand their nature, please visit the following links.
www.ProjectWildlife.org - "Due to the rapid loss of habitat by development, many coyotes have found themselves forced to cohabit with humans. We humans need to learn to coexist with this native species. The problem of dealing with the urban coyote will not be solved by extermination;"
www.DupageForest.com - "While it is prudent to be wary of any wild animal, coyotes shy away from human beings and do not present a real threat to [forest] preserve users."
www.northern.edu - "Coyotes are most active from just before sunset until shortly after sunrise."
www.mdc.mo.gov - "Seeing a coyote in your neighborhood is not necessarily a reason for alarm."
ChicagoWildernessMag.org - "Wildlife biologists are confident that even as coyotes get bolder, by following certain rules, humans can co-exist with coyotes peacefully and enjoy sharing the land with this clever and beautiful animal. The number one rule is to never feed coyotes."
www.inhs.UIUC.edu - "As recently as the 1950s, coyotes were considered uncommon in Illinois; now there are probably over 30,000 living in the state."
www.CanisMajor.com - "Coyotes are here to stay. These animals have been shot, poisoned, trapped, and otherwise harassed by man, yet they have flourished. We should accept their help in controlling rats and mice, respect their tenacity, admire their wildness, and salute their curiosity and playfulness."
www.willowbrookwildlife.org - "The Illinois Department of Resources (IDNR) records indicate only 16 coyote attacks on humans in the past 30 years. The majority of these cases occurred when people tried to hand-feed the animal."
Previously released publications:
Attention Residents - Alert Precautions (Distributed 10-07-04)
Coyote Awareness Flyer (Distributed 10-21-04)
www.ProjectWildlife.org - "They will not attack a human but will fight to protect their young."
www.DupageForest.com - "Like many wild animals, foxes avoid humans and only pose a realistic threat if cornered or hurt."
www.dnr.state.il.us - "Reports of red foxes in urban and suburban areas seem to be more common in recent years, probably because coyote numbers are low and rabbits and rodents are abundant in these areas."
www.newton.dep.anl.gov - "In Illinois the red fox is most at home in farmlands, open country and the borders of woodlands where it has held its own and thrived over the years in spite of hunters, trappers and the disturbances of its habitat by man."
www.willowbrookwildlife.org - "Red foxes prefer forested areas, but are now forced to inhabit urban/suburban areas, especially homes that back up to fields or wood plots."
www.UrbanWildlifeRescue.org - "The fox is generally a nocturnal animal, but they may often be seen sunning themselves at any hour of the day. During the winter months, they may forage for food during the day because of the difficulty in finding an adequate food source"
Page last updated on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 05:07 PM -0500