Coyotes

Reports of coyotes increase during October and November in Glen Ellyn. Coyotes are primarily nocturnal but during the fall juveniles begin to leave their family group to find a mate and a new territory. Much of the time spent hunting for a mate takes place during daylight so the normally shy coyotes are easily seen by humans. Coyotes have fairly large territories ranging from 5 to 10 square miles. Occasionally territories will be smaller if food is plentiful. In 1989 there were 2 coyote dens at the Village Links Golf Course. The dens were only 1 mile apart. Coyotes can dig their own den but often take over a den previously used by a woodchuck or skunk. They mate in January and 2 months later 1 to 19 pups are born, The average litter is 6 pups.

A juvenile coyote rests on #6 fairway.

Coyotes have been present off and on at the Village Links for the past 40 years. They have been observed eating primarily mice, chipmunks and rabbits. Surprisingly they have never gone after any of the 3 stray cays that have lived around the golf course the past several years. This is probably due to the fact that coyotes learn what to eat from their parents. If they are taught to eat mice and rabbits, that is all they will eat unless their natural food source disappears. In Southern California there was an instance where coyotes were attracted to cat food put out by local residents who were feeding feral cats. The coyotes began feeding on the colony of feral cats once they learned they learned they were a food source.