Dallas Animal Services recently used lethal force against a coyote in the Lake Highlands area following reports of dangerous behavior, according to a newsletter from District 10 Council member Kathy Stewart.
Sign near Flag Pole Hill warns visitors to be aware of increased coyote presence in the area. Photo by Carol Toler.
Per the Oct. 8 newsletter, DAS began receiving reports of dangerous coyote behavior near Church Road, White Rock Trail and Lake Highlands Trail on Sept. 22. After continued reports of dangerous behavior and unsuccessful attempts at warding the animal off, one coyote was lethally removed from the area on Oct. 8, the newsletter states.
DAS will continue to monitor the area in the coming weeks. The department recently held a coyote education meeting at Lake Highlands North Recreation Center. In September, our own Carol Toler reported on a series of complaints from neighbors about increased wildlife activity in the area, including reports of attacks on pets.
Lake Highlands is all too familiar with coyote activity in the neighborhood. In 2022, a two-year-old child was taken to the hospital with critical injuries after being attacked on his front porch by a coyote. The incident sparked outrage among neighbors after City officials suggested residents had encouraged the attacks by handfeeding coyotes.Â
The incident led City and State officials to ramp up education efforts in the area, with Dallas Animal Services implementing a new coyote management program. As part of the plan, the City now provides an interactive map of coyote sightings that can be found here.
According to DAS’s guide to living with coyotes, while the animals are solitary creatures, they have the ability to adapt to new environments in response to ecological pressures. In these situations, coyotes can venture into new environments such as back yards and neighborhood streets. The animals are mostly seen during the spring pupping season, although they remain active throughout the year.
When a coyote is sighted in a neighborhood or on neighbor property, DAS encourages residents to yell, wave their arms and throw things near (not at) the animal to ward it off. To keep pets safe, the department recommends keeping cats secure and ensuring that dogs left outside are kept within a coyote-proof (at least 8 feet tall and made of material the animals can’t climb) fence.
DAS stresses that socialization (i.e, getting too comfortable with humans) can lead to coyote incidents in residential areas. To avoid this, neighbors are strongly encouraged to refrain from feeding the animals.
If neighbors come across a coyote that appears sickly, socialized or rabid, they are asked to get away from the animal and call 911. In cases where the encounter is not a pressing danger, neighbors can report the sighting to the City’s coyote hotline at 469-676-9813.
