From the Old Lake Highlands newsletter. If we had more ENA newsletter volunteers, we could offer features like this.

Coexisting with Coyotes

Dallas Animal Services (DAS) presented a “Coyote Outreach” session at the Bathhouse Cultural Center on May 21.

Dallas’s Program for Coyote Management

The city’s program relies on maintaining a healthy ecosystem where coyotes thrive on natural food sources rather than man-made ones.

The city’s approach is twofold:

• Promoting natural behavior in coyotes’ diet. It is crucial that residents do not intentionally or unintentionally feed coyotes. This can lead to coyotes becoming conditioned to depend on human-provided food, increasing the likelihood of close encounters.  By discouraging dependence on man-made food sources, coyotes will continue to play their role in the ecosystem without posing a threat to human safety.
• Encouraging natural behavior of coyotes to avoid humans. Coyotes can learn to approach people and their pets if we fail to discourage them.  Coyotes will stop and evaluate.  If they are not chased away, they learn that we pose no threat.

Citizens’ Responsiblities

To support the city’s initiative, it is important for everyone in the neighborhood to take the following actions:

• Secure Garbage and Compost: Ensure that trash cans are sealed and compost bins are not accessible to coyotes. This prevents them from scavenging for food in residential areas.
• Remove Outdoor Pet Food: Never leave pet food outside, as this attracts coyotes. Feed pets indoors to avoid unintentional feeding of wild animals.
• Close Off Shelter: Seal any potential den sites such as crawl spaces under decks, sheds, or vacant buildings. This discourages coyotes from settling near human dwellings.
• Report Coyote Sightings:  Call Dallas 311 or the coyote hotline: 469-676-9813.  Sighting reports are essential for evaluating changes in coyote behavior.
• Use Coyote Deterrents: Employ “hazing” methods to keep coyotes away from humans.  Coyotes can become conditioned to approach us if we fail to discourage contact.  Hazing methods are described on the DAS website: https://bedallas90.org/wildlife/

Maintaining a Healthy Ecosystem

A balanced ecosystem where coyotes fulfill their natural roles benefits both wildlife and humans. Coyotes help control the population of rodents and other small animals, contributing to environmental health. If everyone follows these practices, we can ensure that coyotes continue to thrive without encroaching on suburban life.

More information is available on the website: https://bedallas90.org/wildlife/

Download the coyote flyer: https://bedallas90.org/wp-content/uploads/Coyote-Flyer.pdf