A coyote killed a small dog in Lake Bluff on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the second attack on a pet in the village since August.

The Lake Bluff Police Department responded to a report near Maple Avenue and East North Avenue, Lake McHenry Scanner reported. The dog died from the attack, the police department said. Police did not identify the dog's owner or say what time the attack occurred.

"We know the owners did take several precautions to prevent this tragedy but unfortunately the coyote still found a way to attack the dog," the police department said.

The department is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to document the attack, which police called the second in two months. The department said it will seek additional resources to address the problem, though it did not specify what those would be.

What pet owners should do

The Village of Lake Bluff warns on its website that coyotes can enter fenced properties. A fence alone should not be considered a guarantee a small pet is protected, the village said.

Police urged residents to supervise small pets outdoors, keep dogs leashed on walks and never feed coyotes. Residents should also remove outdoor food sources that could attract coyotes or their prey, such as pet food, fallen fruit and unsecured garbage.

Anyone who encounters a coyote should not run, the village said. Stand tall, yell, clap and wave your arms. Residents should not attempt to poison coyotes and should contact the IDNR before trying to capture or remove one.

First attack in August

The Nov. 3 attack came less than three months after a coyote entered the backyard of a Tangley Oaks home on the afternoon of Aug. 19 and snatched a small dog. Officers searched the area but did not recover the pet, which was presumed dead. That was the first reported incident of its kind in the village, police said.

Ken Robertson said in August that the attack involved his family's dog, Stanley. His wife was outside with the dogs about 10 feet away when the coyote came from the woods on their unfenced property. She chased and screamed at the animal, but it grabbed the dog and ran, Robertson said, according to Lake McHenry Scanner's August coverage.

The family had seen coyotes in the neighborhood and had been careful about accompanying their dogs outside, Robertson said. It happened fast.

If a coyote poses an immediate threat to people, move to a safe location and call 911, police said.