Coyote activity tends to increase in early spring, so sightings in the Park Cities will likely go up in mid to late March. Coyotes eat plants and animals including skunks, possums and raccoons. Since they prefer to find easy meals, they are also attracted to:
- Dog and cat food that is left outside
- Rotting fruit under trees
- Bird seed on the ground (position bird feeders so that coyotes cannot get feed)
- Trash that is accessible due to garbage containers that are not properly secured
Don't leave small pets outside overnight or let them run free. Accompany your pet outside, especially at night. Do not assume that a fence will keep a coyote out of your backyard. If you see a coyote in your yard, make noise and wave your arms. You can also spray it with a water hose. The coyote is likely to leave the area quickly after any of these actions.
If you see a coyote in your neighborhood, regardless of the time of day, you can report the sighting to UPPD dispatch by filling out a quick and easy online report, or by calling the non-emergency number 214-363-3000.
The City keeps a list of the sightings so residents can see where and when sightings have occurred, and so we can send a compilation of locations to Texas Wildlife Services (Division of the USDA) if it becomes necessary to proceed with trapping or lethal enforcement.
