Wolf Sightings in Lake Forest Are Likely of Coyotes

Residents on the west side of Lake Forest who believe they have encountered a wolf were likely dealing with a large coyote more comfortable with humans than most.

“Anything is possible, but if it was a wolf, I would think other communities would have seen it first, because the wolf would be making its way down from Wisconsin,” said Rob Carmichael, curator of the Wildlife Discovery Center for the City of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation. “It is likely a large, male coyote that is used to being around people.”

Also on Patch: Coyote Sightings Are ‘Quite Common’ in Glenview

Carmichael has responded to have about half a dozen sightings over the last two weeks, having only seen a coyote - not a wolf - when following up.

“It’s also probably the same animal,” he added, noting the state’s Department of Natural Resources has confirmed no verified sightings have been made in the area.

But Lake Forest resident Peebs Kral believes it was a grey wolf she saw on July 1 near Telegraph Road and Arbor Lane.

According to the Daily North Shore, while Kral was walking her dog that night, a large animal “with silver and grey fur crouched forward, almost on its elbows, with its mouth open, one moment away” from attacking her dog.

“Then it ran in front of me, and we were probably two feet apart and staring at each other in the eyes,” she said.

Kral’s account via the DNS:

“I thought, oh, what a magnificent, beautiful animal. It wasn’t the yellow-brown-grey color of a coyote’s fur. It wasn’t scrappy like a coyote. It looked well fed. Its fur was very light in color, almost white and silvery. And it just stood there. We were eye to eye, and just as he moved forward and I thought OK this is it; he’s going to attack me, just then I had an angel with me because at the precise moment he moved his foot forward someone nearby let off fireworks. It didn’t scare him off, but he backed up a couple of inches and it broke his focus on me and I just ran to my home around the corner.”

She said the animal looked like it weighed about 100 pounds and was roughly 30 inches tall.

Read more via the Daily North Shore

Still, likely a coyote, according to Carmichael - who shared some of the ways humans can prevent the animal from intruding.

“Having motion lights around your property, keeping a closer eye on smaller pets, not leaving food out and keeping your property well groomed. Those all help,” he said. “Making loud noises can also drive them away.”