Jennygirl
04-05-2007, 09:54 AM
CBS) BARRINGTON, Ill. A coyote was released to be free in the wild Wednesday after a day trip to Chicago. The coyote was rounded up Tuesday afternoon at a Quizno's sandwich shop downtown.
After a proper send-off, the coyote is now roaming greener pastures, reports CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago.
For a second day Adrian the coyote was the center of a media frenzy. Tuesday it was for his unexpected urban visit, and Wednesday it was for his return to the wild.
He was named Adrian, after the Animal Control worker who took care of him.
Among those gathered for the send off, were some of the very employees shocked by the coyote's wayward visit.
"We just wanted to say good-bye to Adrian. It was nice having him as a guest even though we all got kicked out of our store because he was there,” said the restaurant’s manager, Bina Patel.
The employees even brought Adrian a sandwich to sample.
"We believed that Adrian came down to Quizno’s to try out the new garlic prime rib sub,” said Raheem Amer.
But rescue workers thought that wasn't such a good idea.
“The reality is that obviously they don't eat processed food or cooked food,” said Dawn Keller, director of Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation in Illinois.
Rescue workers wanted to make sure they kept things as true to Adrian's natural habitat as possible before he was returned to the wild.
"I certainly hope he reacclimates to being outdoors, that he finds good food sources,” Keller said.
That didn't appear to be a problem. Plenty of deer were present just yards away from the release point.
After hearing of the coyote's plight, a volunteer with Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation felt her own backyard, full of wild life would be the perfect release sight for the wayward animal.
"We have a number of acres available. Even just across the road, we have a private party that owns 450 acres so I knew that he would have a number of acres to roam on. He's in a safe place,” said volunteer Barbara Overbey.
Volunteers believe Adrian will be very happy here in his new home - happy enough they hope to never return to Chicago or any other urban areas.
As WBBM-TV's Dana Kozlov reports, this was the third coyote captured in Chicago this year. Lincoln Park Zoo conservation expert Dr. Steve Thompson said he was not surprised.
"Back in the 50s, there weren't many coyotes in Illinois at all, and then since the 1970s they’ve really increased at a high rate,” Thompson said.
Specifically why is unclear. Thompson says development and an abundance of deer are likely factors. Another?
"They’re a little more trusting of people because they don’t have adverse reactions and they’re letting us see them a little bit more. Although, walking into a Quizno’s is probably at the very high, extreme end of trusting humans,” Thompson added.
http://kdka.com/watercooler/watercooler_story_095063010.html
After a proper send-off, the coyote is now roaming greener pastures, reports CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago.
For a second day Adrian the coyote was the center of a media frenzy. Tuesday it was for his unexpected urban visit, and Wednesday it was for his return to the wild.
He was named Adrian, after the Animal Control worker who took care of him.
Among those gathered for the send off, were some of the very employees shocked by the coyote's wayward visit.
"We just wanted to say good-bye to Adrian. It was nice having him as a guest even though we all got kicked out of our store because he was there,” said the restaurant’s manager, Bina Patel.
The employees even brought Adrian a sandwich to sample.
"We believed that Adrian came down to Quizno’s to try out the new garlic prime rib sub,” said Raheem Amer.
But rescue workers thought that wasn't such a good idea.
“The reality is that obviously they don't eat processed food or cooked food,” said Dawn Keller, director of Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation in Illinois.
Rescue workers wanted to make sure they kept things as true to Adrian's natural habitat as possible before he was returned to the wild.
"I certainly hope he reacclimates to being outdoors, that he finds good food sources,” Keller said.
That didn't appear to be a problem. Plenty of deer were present just yards away from the release point.
After hearing of the coyote's plight, a volunteer with Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation felt her own backyard, full of wild life would be the perfect release sight for the wayward animal.
"We have a number of acres available. Even just across the road, we have a private party that owns 450 acres so I knew that he would have a number of acres to roam on. He's in a safe place,” said volunteer Barbara Overbey.
Volunteers believe Adrian will be very happy here in his new home - happy enough they hope to never return to Chicago or any other urban areas.
As WBBM-TV's Dana Kozlov reports, this was the third coyote captured in Chicago this year. Lincoln Park Zoo conservation expert Dr. Steve Thompson said he was not surprised.
"Back in the 50s, there weren't many coyotes in Illinois at all, and then since the 1970s they’ve really increased at a high rate,” Thompson said.
Specifically why is unclear. Thompson says development and an abundance of deer are likely factors. Another?
"They’re a little more trusting of people because they don’t have adverse reactions and they’re letting us see them a little bit more. Although, walking into a Quizno’s is probably at the very high, extreme end of trusting humans,” Thompson added.
http://kdka.com/watercooler/watercooler_story_095063010.html