Kimberly J. Myers

02/07/2026

HE ISN'T MAKING FRIENDS. HE IS ESCORTING YOU OUT. 🐺⛔

You are walking your dog in the park. You notice a coyote following you. He isn't hiding. He is trotting 20 feet behind you. He stops when you stop. He looks "curious." You think: "Aww, he wants to play with my dog!"

STOP. This is a threat, not a playdate.

It is February. It is Mating Season. That coyote is not hunting you. He is "Escorting" you.

Here is the science of "Territorial Escorting":

1. The Bouncer Technique 🕵️‍♂️ When a coyote hunts, he hides. When a coyote "Escorts," he makes sure you see him. He is communicating a clear message: "You are too close to my den. I am watching you until you leave." He will follow you until you cross the invisible line of his territory. Then he will vanish.

2. The "Dog" Problem 🐕 To a coyote, your dog isn't a pet. He is a Rival Wolf. In nature, strange wolves kill coyote pups. The coyote sees your dog as a threat to his unborn babies. If your dog pulls on the leash to say "Hi," the coyote sees it as an act of war.

3. The Protocol: Don't Run, Just Leave. 🚶‍♂️

Do Not Run: Running triggers the "Chase Instinct" (predatory drift).

Do Not Let Them Play: Keep your dog on a short leash.

Haze Him: If he gets too close (under 10 feet), wave your arms, yell, or throw a stick near him to remind him you are big.

Keep Walking: The goal is to leave his territory. Once you are far enough away, he will stop following.

Respect the es**rt. Exit the premises.



📌 Quick FAQ
Q: What if there are two of them? A: Mated Pair. 👫 In February, you often see the male and female together. This confirms they are denning nearby. Be extra cautious; two coyotes are bolder than one, and they may try to "flank" your dog to drive it away.

Q: Should I pick up my small dog? A: YES. 🐩 If your dog is under 20 lbs, pick it up immediately. To a coyote, a small dog can look like prey (a large rabbit). Lifting it up removes the "prey profile" and makes you look like one giant, scary organism.

Q: Why are they out in the daytime? A: Babies. 🍼 (Or making them). Parents need more calories during mating/pregnancy. They have to work the "day shift" to eat enough. A daytime coyote is usually just a busy parent, not a sick one (unless stumbling/mange).

02/05/2026

My environmentally conscious or curious friends may find these of interest

Share your thoughts on the future of one of our most beloved preserves – Herrick Lake! Over the past year, staff gathered input from visitors, neighbors, and partners to help shape a long‑term vision for restoration, recreation, and site improvements. Now we want to hear from you. Explore the d...

01/09/2026

09/16/2022

https://dekalbcounty.org/departments/veterans-assistance-commission/scholarship-information/

Check out these scholarships available in IL counties for children of veterans to attend ISU.

Scholarship Information

08/30/2022

Here is another opportunity to participate in the ongoing conversation on Race and the Law.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Race and the Law Conversation on Housing and Racial Justice. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

08/26/2022

Don't miss out on a penny that you have coming for your retirement.

Workers are leaving behind small pools of retirement savings as they bounce from one short-lived job to the next.

08/23/2022

Downtown DeKalb, IL Corn Fest road closures this weekend...

A quick announcement from Shaw Local regarding DeKalb Corn Fest. Watch for parking lot closures and road closures. Signs will be posted in advance.

05/19/2022

Good news for Illinois homeowners facing possible foreclosure.
Illinois Homeowners Assistance Fund (ILHAF) makes available over $300 million to Illinois homeowners facing foreclosure and is administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). Attached is a one-page fact sheet.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 31, 2022.

ILHAF application available at https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/ilhaf
o Please note, THIS PORTAL WILL CLOSE ON Tuesday, May 31st at 11:59 p.m.

o You can search for the nearest HUD-certified housing counselor by entering a zip code at https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/ilhaf -map

o IHDA also has a call center that is available 8 a.m.-7 p.m., M-F, at (866) 454-3571 or (866) - ILHELP1, Press Option 3.

ILHAF Outreach Toolkit available at www.illinoishousinghelp.org/toolkit
o This kit includes program messages, images to help boost awareness and encourage constituents to apply, bilingual marketing materials, social media graphics and more information for download and distribution. If you would like printed copies of any of the materials included in this toolkit please reach out to Sarah Song at [email protected].

ILHAF “How-To-Apply” Videos
o English ILHAF How to Apply Video (15 min): https://vimeo.com/692007876/df4892ee2e

o Spanish ILHAF How to Apply Video (29 min): https://vimeo.com/694616624/c6e579db7c

As of April 6, 2022, servicers with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must delay the foreclosure process, including the judicial foreclosure process, for up to 60 days so that borrowers can apply for assistance. Here is the press release regarding this change: https://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/Foreclosure-Suspension-for-Borrowers-Applying-for-Relief-through-the-Homeowner-Assistance-Fund.aspx
Legal aid and mediation services may be available for homeowners impacted by foreclosure in your areas and referrals can be made by IHDA and housing counselors.

This annual report describes FHFA's accomplishments, as well as challenges, the agency faced in meeting the strategic goals and objectives during the past fiscal year.

05/19/2022

Position: Greeting clients; screening phone calls; filing/printing/scanning/copying; data entry; proof-reading and assembling documents; maintaining office supplies; updating online calendar; and other tasks needed to generally assist attorney.

Skills/traits required: Reliable; discreet; patient; positive disposition; Microsoft Office proficient; punctual; good communication both verbal and written; able to prioritize tasks; good time management; proactive thinker.

Hours: Part-time 18-24 hours per week on-site.

Send resume to [Email hidden]. No phone calls please.

12/15/2021

This free booster program is only available until Friday, 12/17, and is open to anyone.

The Illinois Department of Public of Health and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is sponsoring a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic in the lobby of the Dirksen Courthouse and is open this week only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment or insurance is necessary.

This clinic will be administering the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters to anyone 18 and older. You are eligible if two months have passed since you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or if at least six months have passed since your second Pfizer or Moderna shot. Please remember to bring your vaccine card with you to the clinic to be completed by the nurses. The clinic is open to the general public. See the flyer for information. Please feel free to share this information with friends, family and clients.

12/02/2021

By Emergency Message, the SSA announced that SSI Requests for Reconsideration are permitted to be filed for 65 days instead of just 15 days after denial until April 29, 2022.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued an Emergency Message extending the time that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries hav...