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Chicago woman says coyotes chased her, small dog in Wicker Park
A frightening encounter in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood was caught on camera after a woman says she and her small dog were chased by a group of coyotes.
CHICAGO - A frightening encounter in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood was caught on camera after a woman says she and her small dog were chased by a group of coyotes.
Coyote encounter in Wicker Park
The backstory:
The video, which has garnered more than a million views on TikTok, is sparking questions about how common these encounters are in Chicago.
Odalys Flores says she was walking her Chihuahua mix dog, Coco, near Oakley Boulevard on Monday night when she noticed a couple of coyotes following them.
At first, she didn’t think much of it. But when the animals started getting closer, Flores says she panicked, grabbed Coco and ran.
She eventually climbed onto an elevated railing to get away from the coyotes.
The entire encounter lasted about three minutes.
The incident has prompted plenty of discussion online about whether this kind of behavior is normal for coyotes in Chicago.
Coyotes' behavior toward dogs
What they're saying:
Chris Anchor, a senior wildlife biologist with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, says seeing coyotes in the city is actually quite common.
He says the animals appeared to be passing through and may have been curious about the dog.
"The coyotes will look at another canine as an antelope or want to investigate it or get rid of it. They are not acting aggressively in any shape or form," Anchor said.
What you can do:
Experts say coyotes generally pose little threat to people, but residents should avoid feeding them.
Wildlife officials also recommend keeping pets close and giving coyotes plenty of space if encountered.
The Source: The information in this report came from an interview with Odalys Flores, a viral TikTok video of the encounter and expert insight from Chris Anchor, a senior wildlife biologist with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.