Hungry coyotes chasing after a puppy in Chicago’s Riverside area early Friday morning broke a glass door trying to get inside the family’s home. The pack of coyotes went after the Nelson family’s three dogs.
The homeowner had just called in his pet golden retriever, German shepherd puppy, and beagle from their fenced-in backyard when he saw four coyotes racing towards them.
Fox Chicago News reported dog owner Roger Nelson barely got his dogs inside when the coyotes jumped on the door and began pawing at the louvered glass between them.
“They jumped on the door here and started busting the glass with their paws, jumping on it, growling,” Nelson said. “I mean, the hair was standing up on their back; you could see all their teeth.”
When Roger’s wife heard the commotion, she came running downstairs and saw coyotes trying to break into their home.
“I literally, really thought they were going to come into our house,” she said. “I was so scared for the dogs, for us, for the kids. It just scared me to death.”
The coyotes may have forced their way into the family home if it wasn't for Roger’s quick thinking. According to reports, he fired a high-powered BB gun at them, striking two of them.
Police were called to the scene. By that time the coyotes had run off.
“I shot them,” Roger said. “A couple of them ran down, one looked like he almost fell down the stairs. When we came back out they were nowhere to be found.”
This is not the first time the Chicago area has seen wild coyotes attack. In recent months, several attempts of coyotes attacking dogs have been reported. In December, a dog in Wheaton was killed when a coyote jumped the fence and attacked the schnauzer, and on January 3, a Bichon-Poo puppy was killed in Riverside near the 100 block of Addison Road.
Riverside officials warn residents to be careful of any wild animal. The village located along the Des Plaines River houses a lot of wildlife, including coyotes.
But Coyotes are not just seen in the Chicago suburban areas. In late November coyotes were spotted running nearby Chicago’s Wrigley Field. In an area where there is much traffic, these coyotes were unfazed by cars honking at them.
“Coyotes do not know the difference between pets and the wild creatures they hunt,” said Riverside Police Sergeant Bill Gutschick. “So try to protect pets by accompanying them outdoors. Use a short leash, as coyotes have been known to attack animals that are on long leashes. Most importantly, use caution near any wild animal.”
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