Why Do Illinois People Put Color Paw Prints on their Mailbox?

My dad was a postal worker for more than three decades so any question that involves mail and/or mailboxes always gets my attention. Every now and then I hear people asking what the colored paw prints on Illinois mailboxes are for. There's actually a very good reason.

In case you're wondering, it's not easy to be a postal carrier. My dad eventually was transferred to work as a window clerk in the post office after carrying for years. He knew it was important to know the risks of your route.

According to the United States Postal Service, Illinois ranks 5th for dog attacks on postal workers. That's why in the Land of Lincoln, you will see paw prints on some mailboxes.

The Dogington Post says that some mail carriers will place stickers on mailboxes to alert any other carriers that might follow that a dog is present near that home. Some Illinois home owners may also choose to put paw prints on their mailbox.

The colors have meaning, too. A yellow paw print on a mailbox means a dog is within the radius reach of that home. An orange paw print on a mailbox indicates a dog is present at that home.

The US postal service trains carriers to deal with dog interactions by doing their best to not startle a dog and to never pet or feed an animal. They never assume a dog will not bite. Still, that sadly does not stop carriers getting attacked and the colored paw prints are just one small way to try and reduce that number.