Coywolf possibly sighted in Chicago suburb, investigation underway

COOK COUNTY - Police are investigating the possible sighting of a coyote-wolf hybrid, known as a coywolf, in a Chicago suburb.

The Burr Ridge Police Department has recently received reports from residents of a coywolf on the prowl in the southwest suburb.

The animal was allegedly spotted in neighborhoods near the area of 83rd Street and County Line Road.

"This could be an animal that will act as an animal and not be respectful with little children or pets and harm them," said Mayor Gary Grasso, Village of Burr Ridge.

Mayor Grasso tells FOX 32 Chicago that his wife recently laid eyes on the mysterious animal in their own backyard.

"She did spot something and we do have a nice big backyard, and frequently we get deer and coyotes through there all the time and she said, ‘that is not a coyote,’" said Grasso.

After others reported seeing it, too, residents were alerted through a text on Friday.

A coywolf is about 55 pounds heavier than a typical coyote, police said. It also has elongated legs, a more pronounced jaw, smaller ears, and a bushier tail.

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The coywolf can look like a German Shepherd under low light conditions, according to police.

According to the Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project, the term ‘coywolf’ is "still disputed in the scientific community." Unlike the term suggests, the animal is not a 50/50 coyote-wolf mix, rather, it is mainly coyote with a small amount of wolf gene influence. It is also more commonly known as an eastern coyote.

Additionally, the Coyote Research Project states: "There is no evidence to support that eastern coyotes reside in Illinois and it would be unlikely that they could be differentiated by the public from the typical western coyote."

"Could it be, I suppose, but it’s probably pretty unlikely," said Linda Painter, commissioner, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Painter says the animal in question is more likely another combination.

"What I've heard of in the past are hybrids of coyotes and German shepherd dogs, because people have their German shepherds in their backyards, the coyote can jump the fence," said Painter. "We may think that’s what that is, because we don’t have wolves anywhere around here."

Painter says the hybrid – dubbed a ‘coydog’ – tends to be bigger than a typical coyote.

"And they tend to be a little bit more aggressive," said Painter.

To play it safe, Painter urges residents to be on alert.

"If you’ve got little dogs, keep them close in, keep them on a leash, when I walk my dog I carry my whistle," said Painter.

If spotted, residents should not approach the animal, and are asked to call 911 immediately to report the sighting.

Here are some tips on how to keep you and your pets safe.