Coyotes plague Illinois community

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PALATINE TOWNSHIP, Ill., July 15 (UPI) -- An Illinois man is urging more efforts to control a growing population of coyotes after his Yorkshire terrier died after being seized by one of the predators.

Jeff June of Palatine Township is suggesting birth control over trapping and killing coyotes as a way to stop the abundance of them in light of a number of recent attacks on small dogs, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

"I would like to see something done in the area to thin out the coyotes or relocate them," said June, noting there are two packs of coyotes living near his home in the Plum Grove Estates subdivision.

His 13-pound terrier Bonnie was missing for about a week until a neighbor discovered the dead animal on a lawn about two blocks from June's house.

Local or county officials should step in and do something about the roaming coyotes frequently seen in the neighborhood, June said.

"Educate the residents in the area before someone gets hurt -- a child, a senior citizen -- anybody," he said. "You just don't know what an animal is going to do."

Palatine Township said it would hold a seminar, Coping with Coyotes, featuring a local nature center representative to explain what can and can't be done to keep coyotes away.