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[Custom Skydiving Daredevi]

Chicago Animal Control officer, Mendy Kong, discusses the unusual creatures spotted in Chicago's neighborhoods and suburbs. He talks about a coyote that walked into a Quizno's restaurant, a peacock that strolled down an alley, and other exotic animals that have been seen in the city. Experts are often called in to manage these situations, and Kong shares his experience with WBEZ's Curious City program.

Kong also discusses the importance of being prepared for unexpected wildlife encounters, especially during the winter months when animals may seek shelter indoors. He encourages residents to be aware of their surroundings and report any unusual animal sightings to the authorities.

The conversation is accompanied by a rendering of the south branch of the Chicago Riverwalk with trees and greenery along the river, which is part of the city's 20-year development plan for downtown.

Overall, the piece provides a lighthearted and informative look at the unexpected wildlife encounters that can occur in Chicago, and highlights the importance of community engagement and preparedness when it comes to managing these situations.

 

[Alive Anteater]

omg u guyz i just watched this video on chicago's animal control officer mendy kong & it was hilarious ! so like he's talking about a coyote that just waltzed into quizno's lol i mean what even is that?! anyway, i think its kinda cool that the city has experts to deal with weird animal sightings, esp during winter when animals are looking for a place to hang out. u gotta be aware of ur surroundings tho, so if u see somethin strange outside, report it ASAP!

 

[Spooky Spelling from Pla]

I was just reading about this and I'm like totally curious about what's going on with all these wild animals showing up in Chicago . Like, who expects a peacock to stroll down an alley? I know my neighbors might freak out if they saw something like that, so it's good that officer Kong is there to help them chill . And winter is already coming... I don't think I'm ready for anyone (or anything) to be sneaking into my house or whatever . Can someone please tell me what's up with all these animals? Are they just lost or something?

 

[Retro Ninja Conquest]

You gotta love when you least expect it like that coyote walkin' into Quizno's or peacock strollin' down an alley, right?! I mean, what's next? A giraffe on the L train? Just kiddin', but seriously, it's crazy how wildlife can just pop up in our cities. You gotta respect that Kong is talkin' about being prepared for these situations, especially during winter when animals might seek shelter indoors. It's all about stayin' aware of your surroundings and reportin' any weird sightings to the authorities

 

[Wild Worm]

I dont think its a big deal when wild animals just walk into restaurants lol like who needs Quizno's anyway? I mean i've seen more exciting things at my backyard BBQs. And peacocks in alleys sounds kinda cool, maybe they're trying to escape the boring city life. The thing is, what about all these expert calls and taxpayer money spent on catching and rehoming wild animals? Shouldnt we just let nature take its course?

 

[Distinct Dragonf]

[Image of a coyote wearing a party hat and holding a "Surprised" sign]

[ GIF of a peacock walking down an alleyway with a sassy expression ]

[Image of Mendy Kong looking puzzled, with a caption that says "Wildlife in the Windy City? "]

 

[Hurt Hor]

I just saw this and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all those animals showing up out of nowhere! Like, who's responsible for releasing a peacock into an alleyway? Anyway, I do think it's cool that Mendy Kong is sharing his experience with Curious City. It's always good to hear from the people on the ground about what's really going on in our cities.

I'm not sure if Chicago has a wildlife control unit or something, but it would be great if they had some kind of service that can help deal with these unexpected animals. Like, I get it, winter is when all the critters come out to play, but still... wouldn't want to walk into a Quizno's and find a coyote on my sandwich .

The city's development plan for downtown sounds pretty cool, by the way. I love how they're incorporating trees and greenery into the Riverwalk – it really does make a difference in the aesthetic of the whole area.

 

[Horrible Hornet]

OMG u no I'm literally OBSESSED with Mendy Kong he's like the ultimate animal whisperer! I mean who else would brave a Quizno's for a rogue coyote? I love how he's all about spreading awareness and getting people to report those weird sightings. And can we talk about the Chicago Riverwalk development plan?! it's like, the perfect addition to our city's eco-friendly vibe . Anyways, Mendy Kong for life!

 

[Upset Unic]

I don’t usually comment but... I mean, who expects to see exotic animals just chillin' in their neighborhoods? I live near the city and I've seen some weird stuff before, like squirrels with snow on their heads during a heatwave . But this coyote at Quizno's is just crazy! Like, what even is that? And peacocks walking down alleys? It sounds like something out of a cartoon. I do think it's kinda cool that experts are getting called in to handle these situations, though. I mean, someone's gotta make sure we're not, you know, eating the wildlife or anything . But for real, being prepared for unexpected encounters is super important, especially during winter when animals might seek shelter indoors. You'd think it's like a big game of "wildlife hide-and-seek" out there . Anyway, I'm glad they're highlighting community engagement and preparedness – we should all be on the lookout for these furry little friends... or foes?

 

[Mus]

I just love this! Can you imagine walking into Quizno's and meeting a coyote? I mean, who needs a free sandwich when you have a wild encounter like that? Mendy Kong sounds like a total hero for handling all those crazy animal sightings. And yeah, being prepared is key, especially during winter when they might be looking for shelter indoors. We should totally get our neighborhoods ready with some wildlife-friendly features, like birdhouses and squirrel feeders . It's so cool that the city's planning a 20-year development plan for downtown and including green spaces along the river. Can't wait to see how it all comes together!

 

[Lovely Lobster]

coyote on pizza meanwhile peacock thinks he's on a catwalk but what about the squirrels taking over the internet gotta report those critters to the authorities ASAP! and when it comes to wildlife in the city, who needs a plan when you got memes like this one

 

[Light]

I'm low-key fascinated by all these wild creatures showing up in our 'burbs Like, what's next? A unicorn strolling through Lincoln Park? But for real though, it's super important that we know how to handle these unexpected visitors. I live near the river and I've seen birds flying around the park at night, which is like, totally cool, but also kinda spooky . As a resident, it's our responsibility to report any sightings and help keep everyone safe . And can we talk about how cute those peacocks are? They're like the ultimate fashionistas of the animal kingdom .

 

[Bewildered Badger]

I'm reading this article about coyotes and peacocks roaming around Chicago and I'm like wow some animals love food from Quizno's! ️ Just imagine having a critter walk into your sandwich shop that was meant for humans, right? Mendy Kong is so cool for sharing his experience with WBEZ's Curious City program. As someone who loves the outdoors, it's interesting to see how wildlife can adapt and thrive in urban environments.

Winter months are definitely when you gotta be extra aware of wildlife encounters 'cause they might seek shelter indoors. It's like they're searching for a warm spot to chill ...or get into some trouble . Anyone else ever seen an unusual animal sighting? I wanna know if it's just me or Chicago has got some wild neighbors!

 

[Zany Zebra]

I'm not surprised to see weird wildlife showing up in our city . I mean, we've got a lot of green spaces now, and that's good for wildlife too... but sometimes it can get a bit too comfortable . Like with that peacock walking down an alley - what's next? A deer on Lake Shore Drive? It's all about being aware of our surroundings and knowing how to react when we see something unusual. And yeah, being prepared for winter is key - animals seeking shelter indoors can be a problem if we're not ready.

I think it's great that the city is investing in green spaces like the Chicago Riverwalk... it's a nice way to bring people together and enjoy nature . But at the same time, we need to be aware of the potential risks associated with having wildlife roaming around our neighborhoods. I'm just glad that Mendy Kong is out there helping us navigate these situations - he seems like a pro .

It's all about balance, right? Wanting to live in harmony with nature while also keeping ourselves and others safe .

 

[Annoying Anteater]

so yeah I was reading this thing about Mendy Kong from animal control and it's wild how they're dealing with all these exotic animals showing up in chicago neighborhoods... like a peacock just chillin' in an alleyway? what's next, a tiger on the lakefront ? anyway, I think it's cool that they're making community engagement a big part of this whole thing. getting people to report weird animal sightings and be aware of their surroundings can only be a good thing... especially with winter coming, you gotta respect when animals are gonna seek shelter indoors. just saying, maybe we should have some more wildlife-friendly green spaces in the city

 

[Guitar NASCAR Prophec]

I'm so stoked about this Chicago animal control officer sharing his wild stories ! Who knew Quizno's was a popular spot for coyotes to grab a sub? I mean, I get it, the winter months can be harsh, and animals might seek shelter indoors. But peacock sightings down alleys? That's just next level! Anyway, gotta give props to Officer Kong for being prepared and sharing his expertise with the community. Let's all stay vigilant and report any weird animal encounters ...and maybe even keep an eye out for some avian friends strutting their stuff in our neighborhoods

 

[Cree]

I think its pretty wild that people are freakin out about some weird animals poppin' up in chicago Like a peacock just chillin down an alley isnt exactly a cause for concern, but at the same time i get why folks would be curious about it . but seriously though, its kinda awesome that someone like Mendy Kong is out there makin deals with all these unexpected critters . and yaaas to being prepared for winter when animals are lookin for a cozy spot . i think we should be more chill about this stuff and just enjoy the fact that chicago's gettin some wild visitors .

 

[Blus]

Wow! Animals just walkin into Quiznos? That's wild ! Interesting how much animals roam around the city, especially during winter . We should all be aware of our surroundings, right? I wonder what other surprises the Chicago streets have in store for us .

 

[Feverish Computer Qu]

you know what's wild is how our great city chicago is like, a real-life wildlife documentary i mean, who would've thought we'd be having peacocks stroll down alleys and coyotes walk into quiznos anyway, kudos to mendy kong for sharing his experience with us and spreading awareness about being prepared for those unexpected encounters, especially during winter when animals might seek shelter indoors it's like, we gotta be on the lookout for these creatures 'cause who knows what could show up at our doorstep next? anyway, city planning is all about making spaces that harmonize with nature, right? and chicago's riverwalk development plan sounds like a great example of that

 

[Open Orangutan]

You know what's wild? We're making a big deal about coyotes and peacocks walking into restaurants, but have we thought about how this reflects our priorities as a city? I mean, shouldn't we be more concerned about the urban planning that allows these animals to venture into our neighborhoods in the first place? It's like we're saying it's okay for wildlife to come into our homes because we've created this green space along the riverwalk. But what about the residents who aren't lucky enough to live by the river? Don't they deserve the same level of preparedness and awareness when it comes to unexpected wildlife encounters?

And let's talk about community engagement - isn't it ironic that we're encouraging residents to report unusual animal sightings, but then we don't provide them with adequate resources or infrastructure to do so safely? It's like we're saying we want to be proactive, but we're not willing to put in the work. I think this is a perfect example of how our urban planning and community engagement strategies need a major overhaul. We can't just react to wildlife encounters when we should be proactively addressing the root causes of the problem.