A photographer spotted a coyote wandering along Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park in broad daylight – and it’s not the first time one has been seen downtown during the day.
Coyote sightings are common across the Chicago area, even downtown. But in the middle of the day? Not so much.
“Oh my goodness that’s crazy,” said Chicago resident Sam Maturi. “Where are they even coming from?”
Coyotes are native to the area, but seen more often during winter mating season.
NBC Chicago asked a wildlife expert from the Forest Preserves of Cook County what could explain the sighting near North Michigan and Van Buren. Chris Anchor, a senior wildlife biologist, said he believes this coyote is from a family that’s made their home near the Museum Campus – and just had pups.
“So the adults are working feverishly trying to find enough food to keep their bellies full,” Anchor said. “So running around not just at dusk and at dawn and at night, but they’re actually moving around during the day.”
Unlike what some may assume, coyotes don’t feed on garbage or human food. Instead, they’re looking for mice and rats, which is one of the benefits they provide.
“We’ve actually documented them waiting for a break in traffic to cross,” Anchor said. “They learn our patterns and they learn how to avoid us.”
“I’d try to scare it away probably, I mean I’d be alarmed, obviously it’s a coyote,” visitor Charles Gordon said.
But Anchor recommends the opposite.
“I would just enjoy it,” he said. “I would keep my distance and enjoy one of the native animals of the Chicagoland region.”
Coyotes are predators, so you should never approach them or feed them. Coyote attacks on humans are rare, Anchor said, but tend to happen when they’re being fed.
