On June 21st, Sarah Whitson, a Wildlife Officer for the City of Austin, gave a presentation at Wild Basin about “Peacefully Co-Existing with Coyotes”. More than two dozen people came to hear the talk – many neighbors and Wild Basin hikers, but some folks came from as far away as Dripping Springs and Georgetown to learn more about urban coyotes.
Ms. Whitson’s presentation was both informative and enjoyable. The audience learned about how quickly coyotes are spreading in urban areas, how challenging it is to control or reduce their populations (one would have to kill 75% of the population every year for 50 years in order to reduce the current population size given the growth rate), and some strategies that residents can employ to help keep them away from areas where they are not wanted – for example where we have small pets or domestic livestock. “Hazing” was one of the techniques that Ms. Whitson recommended for keeping coyotes away from yards and play spaces. Hazing is a method that uses deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage an undesirable behavior, and is recommended for coyotes that have become habituated (lost their fear of humans) and present. Hazing techniques include loud noises (yelling, noisemakers), throwing objects (balls, sticks), and water spray.
Ms. Whitson encourages anyone with questions or concerns about wildlife or human exclusions to contact her at sarah.whitson@austintexas.gov. She also encouraged people to call 311 (972-2000) for any urgent concerns/conflicts regarding wildlife (injured, sick, threatening). Ms. Whitson can assist residents through site visits, yard audits, game cameras, and education and outreach. Find more information at www.austintexas.gov/department/coyotes-central-texas.