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complaints received during the previous reporting period (n = 228), and represents a 54% decrease from the number of complaints received during the same reporting period (i.e., January 1 through March 31) in 2005 (n = 186). See Travis County Wide 311 Coyote Calls - Jan 2005 to Mar 2006 - Excel File.
The total number of complaint calls received from areas previously identified as high priority areas for coyote control (i.e., the 78731 zip code area) has decreased from 52 calls to 8 calls for this reporting period. Only one of the 8 calls originated from areas where coyote management has occurred, while 5 of the 8 calls originated in the area south of Highway 2222 around Bright Leaf State Natural Area, an area where coyote management is not conducted because of property access issues with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The balance of the calls received from the high priority coyote control area (n = 2) originated east of Highway 1, an area where coyote management has not occurred. The total number of 311 calls received in the 78731 zip code area has decreased 89% from the total number of 311 calls received during the same reporting period (i.e., January 1 - March 31) in 2005 (n = 76). See Zip Code 78731 311 Coyote Calls - Jan 2005 to Mar 2006 - Excel File.
Complainant reports of aggressive or bold coyotes has decreased in Travis County and the City of Austin since the initiation of coyote management in January of 2005 (see attached 311 Telephone Call Data Charts). All 311 coyote complaint calls are ranked on a scale of 0 - 7 based on the citizen’s report of the type of behavior exhibited by coyotes. The average behavioral score exhibited by coyotes in Travis County and the City of Austin declined from an average high of approximately 2.4 during the period January through March 2005, to and average score of 1.3 over the same reporting period in 2006. The average behavioral scores exhibited by coyotes during January 2005 (i.e., the month coyote management activity was initiated) declined 50% over a 12 month period, with behavioral scores of 2.6 and 1.3 exhibited in January 2005 and 2006, respectively. The total number of complaints involving observed aggression toward pets or humans in the current reporting period declined 92% from 25 observed incidents reported observed during January through March, 2005, to only 2 observed incidents reported during January through March, 2006. See Coyote Aggressive Behavior Reports Jan 2005 to Mar 2006 - Excel file.
Coyote activity reported by constituents through the 311 call system indicates coyote avoidance of humans may be increasing in Travis County and the City of Austin. Constituent reports of the proportion of daylight observances of coyotes in streets and yards versus observance of coyotes during night hours or in greenbelts has decreased from 61% to 39% for the period January through March in 2005 and 2006, respectively. See Night Versus Day Behavior of Coyotes - Dec 2005 to Feb 2006 - Excel file.
The shift in the behavioral patterns of coyote from December 2004 through March 2006 suggests the current coyote management strategy may be modifying the behavior of coyotes in the suburban landscape. Future reports on the behavioral patterns of coyotes may better reflect the effect of the coyote management program in manipulating the coyote population and effecting coyote behaviors. To date, 24 coyotes have been captured and euthanized to control bold or aggressive coyote behavior in Austin and Travis County suburban landscapes.
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