The little bunch of black bristles at the base of its tail, covering a scent gland beneath the skin identified it as being of the wolf family. That same winter the rangers shot four other animals that were obviously part coyote and part dog. Coyotes, which were common here in the early days, may eat a few pheasants and quail, and some rabbits, but their main diet consists of small rodents such as field mice and gophers. Wild dogs however, and the cross-breed of dogs and coyotes, are clever, cruel, silent killers. They, and the common house-cat that has gone wild, are a terrible menace to all wildlife.
Some heartless people dump unwanted dogs and cats out into the forest preserves.
Therefore the rangers have orders to shoot them on sight. They Palos area offers ideal den locations and hunting range for coyotes. This area is wild and largely forested. Running east and west through the center of it, lies the Sag valley in which was built the Calumet-Sag canal to connect Calumet Harbor in Lake Michigan with the main Sanitary Drainage and Ship Canal in the DesPlaines River Valley. The coyote has learned to outsmart man and to stay out of his sight and gun-range.