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COYOTE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY REPORT April 1 – June30, 2006 Reported by : Texas Cooperative Extension – Wildlife Services Coyote management activities conducted by the Texas Cooperative Extension – Wildlife Services (WS) for this reporting period include direct control activities as well as activities that provided technical assistance to constituents to prevent and alleviate conflicts with coyote in the City of Austin and Travis County. Technical assistance information was provided to 86 constituents that reported coyote activity or conflicts on the 311 telephone reporting system, and technical assistance was provided to approximately 100 individuals attending public

meetings. The total number of coyote complaints received for this reporting period (n = 86) represents a 1% increase from complaints received during the previous reporting period (n = 85), and represents an 18% increase from the number of complaints received during the same reporting period (i.e., April 1 through June 30) in 2005 (n = 73). (See Coyote Activity Quarterly Summary- xls)

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 . 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 25% from an average high of approximately 1.6 during the period April through June 2005, to an average behavioral score of 1.2 over the same reporting period in 2006. The average behavioral scores exhibited by coyotes from January 2005 (i.e., the month coyote management activity was initiated) through June 2006 has declined at a rate of approximately 4% per month over the 18 month period, with behavioral scores of 2.6 and 1.2 exhibited in January 2005 and June 2006, respectively. However, the total number of complaints involving observed aggression toward pets or humans increased fourfold from 3 observed incidents reported observed during April through June, 2005, to 12 observed incidents reported during April through June, 2006. (See Apr 06 - Jun 06 Chart - Coyote Predatory Behavior - xls)

The total number of complaint calls received from areas initially identified as high priority areas for coyote control (i.e., the 78731 zip code area) decreased from 8 calls during January through March 2006 to 7 calls for this reporting period. The total number of 311 calls received from the 78731 zip code area has remained unchanged from the total number of 311 calls received during the same reporting period (i.e., April 1 – June 30) in 2005 (n = 7).

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 42% to 27% for the period April through June in 2005 and 2006, respectively. See Jan 05 - Jun 06 Coyote Activity Calls - xls)

The shift in the behavioral patterns of coyote from December 2004 through June 2006 suggests the current coyote management strategy may be modifying the behavior of coyotes in the suburban landscape. A total of two coyotes were captured and euthanized during the current reporting period. Since the initiation of coyote management in Austin and Travis County suburban landscapes in January of 2005, a total of 26 coyotes have been captured and euthanized to control bold or aggressive coyote behavior. The current distribution of coyote complaints indicates an increase in conflicts with coyotes attacking dogs in the 78704, 78735, 78736 and 78748 zip code areas. These attacks are probably natural behavioral responses of coyotes to other canines that are trespassing in established territories of coyote with young.

• Apr 06 - Jun 06 Map of Coyote Activities - with City and County Roads
• Apr 06 - Jun 06 Map of Coyote Activities with No Roads Showing

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