Coyote's don't just prowl the open prairies and dry grasslands of rural Texas. They are adapting to, and thriving in, urban and suburban areas all across the country - including the Metroplex. Last week one was one spotted near Ohio Drive and Plano Parkway, just north of Hillcrest and Frankford. It was a daylight sighting - unusual, but not uncommon. The coyote wasn't more than 5 feet from the road, hunting in the foot-tall grass. Traffic was whizzing by on both sides of her and it never fazed her. This is an area surrounded by residential subdivisions, retail, and a couple of auto dealers - definitely not rural. A few months back another was spotted in a residential area not far from a local high school and just a few miles away. That spotting was made around 7 a.m.
And the Coyote's aren't alone. There are foxes, falcons, and owls hunting right in our neighborhoods. Even if you don't see them, they are there. And they don't think twice about snatching a small dog or cat for a meal, or even attacking a larger dog if they feel threatened. Everyone needs to realize this and be aware. Cat owners need to keep their cats indoors, particularly at night, in the early morning, and as the sun begins to set. Dog owners need to be especially vigilant about keeping small dogs inside or on a leash at all times. Not just because we have leash laws, but because coyotes have been known to scale fences as tall as 5' or 6'. Wildlife experts tell us that many animals their owners think became lost, were really taken by coyotes. Be vigilant and your pet will not become an urban coyote's next meal.
Resources for More Information:
If you are considering making your indoor/outdoor cat an indoor cat, the Humane Society of the United States has some helpful information on their website at:
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/humane_society_magazines_and_newsletters/all_animals/volume_4_issue_1_spring_2002/a_safe_cat_is_a_happy_cat_and_your_cat_is_only_safe_indoors.html
For more information on coyotes and foxes in urban areas, the DFW Wildlife Coalition has posted a fact sheet from Fund For Animals on their website at:
http://dfwwildlife.org/resources/fs_co10_foxes.pdf
Learn more about coyotes in our area by reading the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's recent press release containing information from their experts:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20070319c
For more information on animal welfare topics, visit http://www.companionsforlife.org/
And the Coyote's aren't alone. There are foxes, falcons, and owls hunting right in our neighborhoods. Even if you don't see them, they are there. And they don't think twice about snatching a small dog or cat for a meal, or even attacking a larger dog if they feel threatened. Everyone needs to realize this and be aware. Cat owners need to keep their cats indoors, particularly at night, in the early morning, and as the sun begins to set. Dog owners need to be especially vigilant about keeping small dogs inside or on a leash at all times. Not just because we have leash laws, but because coyotes have been known to scale fences as tall as 5' or 6'. Wildlife experts tell us that many animals their owners think became lost, were really taken by coyotes. Be vigilant and your pet will not become an urban coyote's next meal.
Resources for More Information:
If you are considering making your indoor/outdoor cat an indoor cat, the Humane Society of the United States has some helpful information on their website at:
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/humane_society_magazines_and_newsletters/all_animals/volume_4_issue_1_spring_2002/a_safe_cat_is_a_happy_cat_and_your_cat_is_only_safe_indoors.html
For more information on coyotes and foxes in urban areas, the DFW Wildlife Coalition has posted a fact sheet from Fund For Animals on their website at:
http://dfwwildlife.org/resources/fs_co10_foxes.pdf
Learn more about coyotes in our area by reading the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's recent press release containing information from their experts:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20070319c
For more information on animal welfare topics, visit http://www.companionsforlife.org/
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