New signs warn residents and park visitors not to feed coyotes and keep pets on a leash.
The Dallas Parks and Recreation Department has installed new signs around White Rock Valley warning area residents and park users to beware of coyotes. The signs follow an incident May 3 which left a 2-year-old badly injured when a coyote grabbed him off his own front porch and attempted to drag him away.
The signs warn residents in English and Spanish that coyotes are wild and intelligent animals capable of adapting to city life.
“If you see a coyote, don’t approach the animal. Watch from a distance,” the signs caution. “Walk your dogs on a leash. Do not litter or feed coyotes. Always use garbage cans. If a coyote approaches you, jump up and down and wave your arms. Yell at it and make noise. Do not run away. Move slowly towards other people.”
The May 3 coyote attack followed weeks of reporting by White Rock Valley residents that aggressive coyotes were following children on their walks to and from school, tracking kids on the White Rock Elementary playground and stealing food deliveries off the porches of homes. Neighbors said their complaints were ignored. Wildlife authorities claimed the residents were “feeding and petting” the animals.
The incident led wildlife authorities to create a new coyote reporting hotline (469-676-9813), which has been used to track the density and location of coyotes in the area. After one month of observation and monitoring, city staff members are now ready to present their coyote management plan.
Employees with Dallas Animal Services and the Parks and Recreation Department will present their coyote management plan June 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center, 9940 White Rock Trail.
