Coyote killing update: 4 teens cited in fatal stomping of animal in Mount Greenwood

Four teens have been issued citations in the killing of a coyote earlier this month in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood.

The backstory:

The killing happened on Jan. 11 in the 10600 block of South Sacramento Avenue. The carcass of the young coyote was found after it had been shot on the railroad tracks with a bow and then stomped, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Chicago Police and Illinois Conservation Police talked to witnesses and reviewed video before the citations were handed down Friday.

All four teens were issued citations for: 

  • Unlawfully hunting without supervision
  • Unlawfully hunting on lands without permission of owner
  • Unlawfully hunting within 100 yards of a home
  • Unlawful abandonment of wildlife carcass on private property without permission

The teens were issued notices to appear in Cook County court on Feb. 26.

What they're saying:

Neighbors who witnessed the attack told FOX 32 earlier this month they were left distraught.

"To watch three people stomping on the coyote… my first thought was how did not one of them think that was a bad idea? How could all three of them just do that?" neighbor David Ferguson said. 

Dig deeper:

Neighbors said a family of four coyotes, including two young coyotes, have frequently visited the block for quite some time. 

At least five calls have been made to the city's 311 line regarding coyote sightings in the area since late December.

The neighborhood is near several acres of green space, including a golf course and a cemetery.

The Source: The information in this story came from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Chicago Police Department and neighbors who spoke with FOX 32.

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