Science & Nature
Coyote Captured Looking for Love in Chicago Aldi’s Refrigerator Aisle

It’s mating season for coyotes and one fella seems to have gone looking for love in an unexpected place: Aldi’s refrigerator aisle.
On Monday morning, Chicago Animal Care and Control responded to a report of a coyote at 800 N. Kedzie Ave., aka the Humboldt Park Aldi.
Video shared on social media showed officers rooting around shelves of produce and salads, finally locating the coyote and pulling it from its hiding place.
The critter attempted to dive back into the cases but was ultimately captured, according to Armando Tejeda of Animal Care and Control.
The coyote, confirmed to be a male, will be transferred to the city’s wildlife rehabilitation partner, Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation.
The animal appears uninjured, “but Flint Creek will conduct an assessment to confirm its health before releasing it back into the wild if deemed appropriate,” Tejeda said.
Coyotes typically avoid humans, but activity and sightings tend to increase during mating season as the animals search for mates and establish territories, he added.
Some tips for co-existing with Chicago’s coyotes, a population that’s adapted nicely to an urban environment:
— Keep an eye on pets and use a short leash on dogs, especially near parks or wooded areas.
— Avoid feeding coyotes (and wildlife in general) as it encourages bold behavior and increases interactions. That applies to unintentional feeding such as leaving pet food, garbage or even birdseed unattended.
— If you come across a coyote, resist the urge to run. Make yourself big, loud and back away slowly.
For more information on the city’s approach to wildlife, check out the plan developed by Animal Care and Control under the guidance of the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]