It's an Animal

And now the Fire Department is going to take a beating over a coyote drowning:

• An aborted water rescue of a wild coyote today left animal advocates furious with Chicago rescue crews.

  After responding to an emergency call about 11 a.m., a fire department scuba team saw a figure moving on an ice-covered Lake Michigan, said Cmdr. Ron Dorneker.

  As a department helicopter hovered above the animal, the ice broke and the coyote fell into the frigid waters about a half-mile from the shore.

  David Holingue, who stopped to watch the commotion during his daily walk along the lakefront path near Fullerton Parkway, expected the divers to save the coyote. He was stunned when authorities called off the rescue.

It's a wild dog. We don't think it's even endangered in Illinois anymore. Lord knows we see a ton of them running around the neighborhood. However, city owned helicopters and dive qualified firefighters are at a premium and ought to be used to rescue human lives.

But thanks for making everyone forget about the cougar.