Coyotes and bobcats roam area seeking prey

MURPHY (May 31, 2011) Coyotes and bobcats have lived and hunted in the local area in perfect balance with nature long before the first people began moving into what we know today as the City of Murphy. The area provided them a steady supply of small mammals that have been their source of food since the days when the area was a wilderness, according to Tammy Drake, Murphy’s Animal Control Officer.
“And, they’re still around, continuing to live here even after the invasion of the human species which has served to shrink and alter their habitat. They’ve been seen along creek beds, greenbelts, and open undeveloped areas of the City. And occasionally they’re spotted in neighborhoods and parks,” she said.
Attacks on human by coyotes and bobcats are rare; they prefer small mammals, such as, rabbits, squirrels, and mice. They also enjoy fruit, and have been known to rummage through household and commercial trash.
“Coyotes are watching and learning from us. We influence their behavior by our actions and inactions, and what they see us do will determine what the young coyotes learn. We need to change some of our habits if we want the next generation of coyotes to be naturally afraid of humans and not find our neighborhoods or back yards to be a safe places to live,” said Drake. To ensure that coyotes and bobcats do not become accustomed to venturing into high-population areas, there are a number of actions that residents can take. Among these are the following:
 Do not leave pet food outdoors at night;
 Clear fallen fruit from trees;
 Make sure trash cans are tightly covered;
 Keep all small pets inside at night;
 Maintain small dogs within eyesight in the yard;
 Keep cats indoors as much as possible;
 Use a strong leash when walking your pet;
 Place entry barriers to barns or sheds;
 Blow a whistle, honk a horn, or some other distraction when confronting a wild animal;
 Contact animal control if your pet is bitten by a coyote or bobcat.
“Coyotes breed between January and March and their gestation period is only about two months. During the following several months, coyotes, especially females, are more visible, very territorial, and can be more assertive in protecting their territory, because of their pups,” she said. Because of that, residents walking their dogs during the early evening should carry a whistle or small air horn to scare away the predators.
“If you see a coyote and you feel it is creating a dangerous situation contact the Police non-emergency at (972) 468-4236 or if you would just like to report a sighting contact Animal Control at (972) 468-4226,” concluded Drake.