Trapper Takes Out Four Coyotes in Wheaton
Wheaton officials praise professional trapper
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384393 07: A coyote searches for food among the snow-covered rocks of Joshua Tree National Monument, January 28, 2000, as a storm moves out of southern California leaving skies of blue. (Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)
Wheaton officials say operation kill-the-coyotes is off to a good start.
On the same day he was hired by the city, a professional trapper captured and killed four of the creatures, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Officials say trapper Rob Erickson caught the coyotes near the Chicago Golf Club Monday – close to neighborhoods where residents say their pets have become coyote meals.
Wheaton officials decided to bring in a professional when residents complained their town was being overrun by coyotes.
"Coyotes are in my backyard every single day," Wheaton resident Annette Corrigan said at a town hall meeting last month. "They are in my neighbor's yard. They are all over the place."
Residents also complained the predatory coyotes were hunting their pets.
But not everybody was happy about the bringing in “The Trapper,” including Wheaton Councilman John Prendiville. He felt that because there was no threat to residents, there was no need to kill the Coyotes.
On Tuesday Prendiville said he believes educating the public, and not killing the coyotes, is a better solution to the problem.
Posted Wednesday, Mar 10, 2010 - 7:38 AM CST
