Local Coyotes Call Bayside Home

In the Village of Bayside, coyotes have always had a negative connotation. From eyeing citizens at night to attacking small dogs, one can see why coyotes might not have the same appeal majestic appeal as say deer.

However, some local experts said there should be no need to fear coyotes.  

Bayside Police Captain Scott McConnell has dealt with coyotes since he started working at the village 27 years ago. Within the ranks of the police department, he considers himself the “coyote person.” Over McConnell’s career at the police department, he has educated residents about coyotes such as telling residents not to leave their pets out overnight or even to leave steaks on the grill after a big cookout.

Even with the aid of education, the initial choice to live in the village is also a motivator for residents to respect the natural environment around them, including the coyotes that dwell there.

“There’s a reason people want to live out in this community,” said McConnell. “It’s the flora and fauna of the area.”

Another individual who would agree with McConnell is the director of Conservation and Adult Education at the local Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. On a hike through the nature center to locate coyote dens, Don Quintenz explained that coyotes have become integral to the natural environment around Bayside like other animals.

“They (coyotes) habituate to people like deer,” said Quintenz. 

But unlike deer who have habituated to humans on a more comfortable level, coyotes generally don’t like drawing attention to themselves whenever possible. 

“One of the first things they adapted to was being quiet,” said Quintenz.

But while these animals don’t like being seen by people, they still serve the residents of Bayside more than people might think.

“They have a minimal environmental impact,” said Schlitz Audubon maintenance assistant, Jonathan Boettcher. “You take the coyotes out of Bayside and the turkeys are going to go insane.”

With no top predator in the area, “insane” would mean a pretty large explosion in the turkey population. Population explosions usually require the use of human intervention to maintain the population at a sustainable level. However, the coyotes act as that natural limiter. 

And if there’s still any doubt as to whether coyotes are out to cause harm to residents, McConnell hopes to put those fears to rest. In the 27 years he has worked for the Village of Bayside, he says he has not run into any coyote he would deem to be a “problem child.”

Quintenz also hopes that with the educational tools the Schlitz Audubon Center and local municipalities provide, residents will view the coyote as another essential animal to Bayside’s unique ecosystem.

“Not to fear them out of ignorance but to live with them out of enlightenment,” said Quintenz.

With the direction things are going in the Village of Bayside, enlightenment of these animals can only build a more respectful relationship between the residents of Bayside and the coyotes who have made their home in the village, experts say.