Travis County Commissioners Court
April 19, 2005
Item 5
Number 5 receive coyote management activity report from Texas cooperative extension - wildlife services.
>> good morning, sherri flemming, executive manager for Travis County health and human services. As you are aware, we had in the fall of last year significant complaints coyote activity in primarily northwest Austin. That once we brought it to your attention culminated in a relationship between our cooperative extension department and the Texas wildlife services and so we have all represented here today to give you an update on where we are with the coyote management in that area. I'll put it to -- to jeff with cooperative extension.
>> [indiscernible]
>> let me introduce you to the two. District supervisor, mr. Gary mccuen, the gentleman that's doing the work here locally here in Travis County, randy fair. I知 going to let them give you an update on what's happened since mid January when we got started.
>> looks like this deal is getting punted around a lot. I would just like to say from the district office perspective and from our program perspective, I believe that the program is going extremely well. The biologist that was hired for the position, randy fair, here beside me is doing an exceptional job in the position. We also filled the vacancy that was created when randy assumed this new position. Recently. The new employee is jacob hedsel, he works out of the extension service office. Another biologist that we hired to assume any of the technical assistance responsibilities associated with the activities that we conducted in the county. But to provide the specifics about -- about the coyote management program that we are conducting, I知 going to turn that over to randy because he's very familiar with those activities.
>> I work prior to mid -- our work prior to mid January was primarily technical assistance related.
>> can we just get your full name for the record there.
>> it's randy fair.
>> okay. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> in the work primarily conducted before -- prior to January 15th was -- was technical assistance related. Providing information for -- for preventing and alleviating conflicts with coyotes. After January 15th, we initiated direct control operations. The -- we worked with the city to identify high priority area and that was area between mopac, highway 1 and highway 360 south to the river or -- the -- the initially from January 15th to around the end of January, we removed six coyotes from anderson high school and hill elementary school area. That area comprised approximately one-half to two-thirds of all of the 311 telephone calls that we received. After -- after the first of February, we initiated control work in the south, in that high priority area, south to -- to 2222. In that area we removed five coyotes, since that time the total 311 calls have decreased approximately 80 to 90% overall in that area. And -- and as far as county-wide, Travis County and the city of Austin overall it's probably reduced 80%. We have worked -- had a lot of cooperation with the city of Austin's forest logistical support with our animal control. As far as euthanizing coyotes that are taken in urban area. We've had some difficulty in gaining access to certain properties. We feel like we need access to -- to completely or at least
>>
>> [one moment please for change in captioners]
>>
>> ... And city government's concern with safety, human safety as far as with our control efforts, which I think have been answered to everyone's -- answered all their concerns in regard to those issues.
>> are we able to today access the properties that we need to access to conduct the program?
>> specifically, judge, we identified the bright leaf area as a very important area and that's a large tract of land that would allow us to conduct the activities without a lot of [inaudible] and to conduct those activities in the areas where it wouldn't be so obvious to the public. We've been able to gain access to those areas at this point in time. Related to the effectiveness of the program as far as exposure to the public, [inaudible] or as far as accidentally capturing animals other than coyotes we've had no problems with that so far. From that standpoint, I think that the public is beginning to feel more assured about what -- feel like there's less problem for some of the conflicts they had initially anticipated. But at this point in time, I think the most important thing is for us to continue to be able to access those properties that we identify as being key areas to work, and in breathe leaf it would certainly -- bright leaf it would help if we could get into that area.
>> is that privately owned?
>> state parks, Texas parks and wildlife.
>> I知 surprised.
>> it's not a preserve, it's really a nature area.
>> given the size of that tract and we've conducted some of these activities in city parks, relatively small areas where there's a lot of human traffic in there, and even in those areas we can find isolated areas to move the equipment, place the equipment during times when there's not a lot of human activity and minimize exposure to people and pets. So I知 certain we could do the same thing in that bright leaf area given the fact that that's, I believe, 200 acres or more in size. So any time we have the opportunity to deal with those larger tracts, we need to be able to do it.
>> have we elevated that discussion to folks over at the state as opposed to the managers at a local level?
>> from what I understand, the city of Austin has initiated contact with Texas parks and wildlife, but I知 not aware of the status of those discussions. As far as approval or non-approval.
>> and I also am thinking that I remember that federal funds were used in part to purchase bright leaf, but maybe I知 misremembering something. I'll be corrected if I知 incorrect. That's another avenue to check on is the use of the federal funds allows certain kinds of activity to occur because of the nature of the funds that were used for that purchase. So that's an inquiry that can be made with the -- I guess that's congressman mccall's office about whether that's indeed the case out there.
>> if we wait on others to say they are going to make a contact, it's like everybody is presuming somebody else is doing it. We need to get it to the high ups at the state as quickly as we can.
>> does anyone know why they are reluctant to gain access?
>> most of the times in these situations, there's just -- it's just because there's some fear that maybe people would be exposed to the methods or that somebody might come across an animal that's being captured. Certainly that could happen eventually, but I go back to the fact that we've already conducted some of these activities in areas where there's a lot of traffic, a lot of people. You know, to this point we've not had those kinds of problems. So I think it's something that's going to occur frequently and I think that once these activities are initiated in these areas, then some of those fears will go by the way side.
>> five of those coyotes were captured and later euthanized that came from our county owned park, allen park, in northwest hills. So if we saw a need in an area that is a county-owned park that is easily accessed by the neighborhood and we didn't have any issues in terms of getting those things removed permanently, as creatures of the area, we ought to be able to get bright leaf on board. Let us know how we can help.
>> we have also received complaints from outside in the rural areas. County. He's conducting some activities in those areas too. And in the long run that's going to be beneficial to the county because that's probably going to minimize the drift of animals back into some of these areas where we've removed animals.
>> in terms of public education, those with a coyote problem know the number to call to complain and maybe get some assistance? Okay.
>> yeah, and the other aspect of public education component of this is those that do call are given further information on what they can do to help in terms of, you know, garbage storage and not feeding animals outside and not leaving dog food uncovered, those kinds of things. So they are being provided with some information that is certainly making an impact and it will help the program too, I think.
>> certainly the e-mail traffic to our office has dwindled down to practically nothing, and it was quite heavy during the pre-trapping.
>> and I think also, judge, Commissioners, it's important to remind folks that we are focusing on problem areas and problem animals. So when we do receive those calls, that guides the work that's done in removing these animals. So the concerns that may have been voiced previously about just all out hunting of animals, that's not what the program involves. It really involves those areas where animals have been a nuisance or a problem or they are in areas where the likelihood of human interaction is heightened.
>> so the residents complain about [inaudible] in a certain elementary school, is that [inaudible]? Okay.
>> and i've not heard any complaints from that elementary school since the program has started. I don't know if anybody else has. It's been good.
>> okay. So we think the management effort is working so far. And those who still have coyote problems should call 311 and report it and we'll see if we can help. Basically. Right?
>> yes, sir.
>> okay. We appreciate your help.
>> yes, sir. Thank you.
>> in terms of -- some other things coming out, the coyotes go in this time of year or are they out too?
>> they are out 365 days a year, but they are welping seasons pretty soon if not right now until the end of may. So some of the behavioral activities, they may exhibit more aggressive behavior because of the pups in the few short weeks or months.
>> okay.
>> and you expect numbers to go back up again in the fall as the pups leave the dense, begin to leave the dens?
>> we hope to take care of the problem before that occurs as far as in areas in the suburban, urban areas, hopefully we'll -- in areas behind people's houses, we're trying to remove dens before that occurs or before actually there's a den. So ...
>> we did get a few complaints from people [inaudible].
>> we've had several come in the office and I think gary addressed that just a little bit, but randy has done some work in rural areas.
>> we have five agreements with agricultural producers and we have removed some coyotes for livestock protection purposes.
>> okay. So 311 is the number to call, and if they don't reach you directly, they will [inaudible], right?
>> yes, sir.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you for the update. Appreciate it.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 10:34 AM