Steiner Ranch Information Blog

39 responses so far ↓

• 1 Stmbtsprgs // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:36 am

  While coyotes are not naturally aggressive, there is a potential that they will become more so - as this article from National Geographic states that the coyotes that start attacking pets could take the next steps… http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0607_050607_coyotes_2.html. I recommend we all contact the Steiner HOA as it is there for community concerns such as this. Perhaps they can help a coordinated effort. I want everyone to feel comfortable on our trails, including my family. That is one of the reasons why we live in Steiner.

• 2 TXN8TV // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:52 am

  I run the trails every morning and my family hikes almost every weekend and we have NEVER had a problem with coyotes. We also live on a greenbelt and did lose a cat to what we assumed was coyotes….but guess what, we decided to keep the other one inside and no problems. If you have lost 8 cats I think it is time to think about having indoor cats. It is what vets recommend anyway…not because of coyotes, but for all sorts of reasons.

• 3 Steiner Res // Sep 23, 2008 at 11:21 am

  Saw 3 together yesterday right beside the Wild Basin Fitness about 8:00 am (not far from the child care place). My wife and son were followed (across the street, but walked with them for quite a while) along Quinlan Park about a month ago.

• 4 katie R // Sep 23, 2008 at 11:29 am

  I grew up in South Texas, where coyotes thrive. In fact my high school mascot in Alice is the Coyote. If you have outside pets (cats) they won’t stand a chance against a coyote attack, as coyotes hunt in packs and encircle the prey. It’s a horrible way for a dog or cat to die, so please be responsible pet owners and keep your pets inside and safe. I lost 2 cats and a dog to coyotes living in south Texas.

• 5 anon // Sep 23, 2008 at 12:58 pm

  It would also be helpful if certain residents (you know who you are) would stop feeding them!

• 6 Wile E. Coyote // Sep 23, 2008 at 2:37 pm

  First, the coyotes were here long before any of us moved to Steiner. We are the ones who invaded their home and stole their hunting grounds. Second, if you read the National Geographic you will see it clearly states that one of the reasons coyotes are becoming more brazen and aggressive is because of their close proximity to humans. So walking home with them probably isn’t the best way to re-enforce a healthy respect for humans, eh?

  The National Geographic article also states that coyotes are smart, highly adaptable animals. When presented with a habitat that provides an artificially high amount and variety of food with an unnatural absence of threat, of course they will take advantage of the situation. So if a coyote that preys on cats and small dogs is seen as a threat, why not remove the easy prey from the equation? I’ll bet the coyote’s “next step” would be to move on and look for food elsewhere.

  A coyote’s main diet is made up of small mammals like mice, rats, rabbits, and squirrels just to mention a few. All of these are in abundance here in Steiner. And personally, I appreciate the assistance in keeping these rodents in check. However, if I still felt like I just had to feed the coyotes, I’d probably chose something other than cats, but that’s just me…

  If you’re concerned about your children playing on the greenbelt, why not supervise them? Or maybe educate them about coyotes and the natural surroundings we take for granted here in Steiner. It probably wouldn’t hurt to teach them to pay closer attention to their surroundings if they are going to play outside of their yard as well. There are far more dangerous predators lurking around Steiner than coyotes.

  In my opinion, the bottom line is we need to teach and instill a healthy respect for nature and all living things so that we ensure our children and generations to come can enjoy what we are so lucky to have today.

• 7 Steiner Res // Sep 23, 2008 at 3:19 pm

  Wow. Let’s see, Wile. First, the coyote was essentialy stalking my wife and son, walking across from them, watching them, even stopping each time they stopped, so I wouldn’t exactly call it a voluntary exercise by my family.

  Second, I choose the safety of everyone here, including their pets, over the coyotes. Easy solution is to find a way to trap them and relocate them, as happened in the Great Hills area.

  I agree that we should all instill a healthy respect for nature and preserve our surroundings, but we can’t instill the same respect in the coyotes.

• 8 Kim // Sep 23, 2008 at 4:27 pm

  According to the Humane Society, “An indoor cat has a life expectancy of 15 to 17 years; an indoor/outdoor cat has a life expectancy of five to seven years.” I have always considered allowing your cats outside to be irresponsible. They don’t just fall victim to predators, cars and disease. They are predators themselves, killing birds and destroying ground-level nests.

  I don’t doubt the presence of coyotes in Steiner, but I’ve yet to see one in my seven+ years living here.

• 9 ARS // Sep 23, 2008 at 4:38 pm

  That is shocking to me that in seven years you have never seen a coyote. I have lived in Steiner for 4 years and frequently see them. My husband and dog were followed by a coyote one evening and nothing my husband did could deter the coyote from following him. They are not afraid of us at all.

• 10 SteinerMama // Sep 23, 2008 at 4:50 pm

  We have lived here for 7 years and never had a problem with coyotes.

  Coyotes are small dogs. Seriously. Are you afraid of terriers, too?

• 11 Trail User // Sep 23, 2008 at 6:29 pm

  http://www.dailycoyote.net/

• 12 DVDTracker // Sep 23, 2008 at 7:25 pm

  Dogs have been domesticated to look on humans as members of their pack. Coyotes haven’t.

• 13 JA // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:21 pm

  I’ve lived here for 4 years and have seen coyotes about 4 times. We saw one behind our home about 3 weeks ago.

  SteinerMama, calling them “small dogs” is quite misleading. I would hate for someone to take that information and assume they’re loveable, tame creatures. Having been raised with them running around our front yard in the southwest, I can easily say they are not anything like a small dog.

• 14 JA // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:23 pm

  TrailUser, I love that site!

  Hopefully people will read it and know the author does NOT suggest taking in a coyote as a pet.

• 15 Trail User // Sep 24, 2008 at 10:58 am

  Absolutely!

  I also agree feeding them is an awful idea. People should be more responsible than that! But this was the coyotes neighborhood first and I hope we can all learn to live together. Next people will want to trap the raccoons and relocate them. I love the nature part of Steiner. It is one of the reasons we moved here.

• 16 Melissa // Sep 24, 2008 at 11:51 am

  Before we moved to Steiner we lived in the infamous Northwest Hills area that had a problem. We saw them every morning and every evening - at our mailbox, in our yard, and even sitting on our front porch once. Never did any of them display aggression.

  Since moving to Steiner 3 years ago, I have never seen one, but I have heard them at night. So, I don’t doubt they are there. And I know they can be agressive when hunting, but they normally don’t regard humans as prey.

  Come on, people. You moved to an area that has a lot of greenspace and touts it’s vast array of wildlife, and now you are complaining because you are seeing that very same wildlife? Duh! We also have rattlesnakes, too (my neighbor’s dog was bitten by one). Not to mention the rats, scorpions, tarantulas, etc. Should we just move them all out of here? Or just kill them all?

  And my cat is now 15 years old. Part of the secret of her longevity is that she’s an indoor cat! As the previous poster mentioned, most vets and animal experts strongly discourage letting cats outside. Even if there weren’t coyotes, there are other cats, cars, snakes, dogs, etc.

• 17 Heather // Sep 24, 2008 at 11:59 am

  We have a major problem with coyotes over here in the apartments…they are being drawn near the apartments by such a large schmorgis (?spelling) board of animals living over here and people leaving their trash out at night instead of putting it out on the morning of trash pickup. One of my friends here in the apartment took her Chihuahua out at about 2 am for a potty break and a coyote walked up behind her and grabbed him and ran off into the woods with him in his mouth…bold I must say. Also many of my neighbors have noticed a female out in the daytime that appears to be in heat and is trying to draw our male dogs into the woods so the pack will have the chance to attack…there are several precautions we as humans can take, and that’s all we can do…they cannot relocate the animals because they will just come back…we are the ones driving them to be so close to humans as we keep building…it’s really our faults. Just keep your animals indoors…plain and simple…and don’t put your trash out at night. The only concern I do have is for our children, because after school one day last week at about 3 pm I saw one sitting on the sidewalk on Quinlan Park just past Steiner Ranch Blvd as children walked home from school…if they get desperate I don’t have any reservations that they could attack and would attack a small child. Any thoughts on this??

• 18 Steiner Mom // Sep 24, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  I have lived her 2 years and have not seen a coyote but hear them at night. If they are out during the day that is a big concern and should be addressed in those areas. But, honestly I am more concerned about a poisionous snake biting my kids then a coyotes!! We all have to stay educated!!

• 19 Melissa // Sep 24, 2008 at 12:19 pm

  And another thing, don’t leave bowls of dog food outside. It only attracts cotoyes and other pests, including rats and roaches.

• 20 mypursona // Sep 24, 2008 at 1:24 pm

  There are numerous accounts just like this one: “February 1997 South Lake Tahoe, CA - Four-year-old Lauren Bridges suffered multiple wounds to her face, of which 16 required stitches, when attacked by a coyote in the yard of a South Lake Tahoe, California residence in”.
  I only WISH that you all could see the picture of this poor little girl that was attacked in the face. There are many other pictures all over the web showing victims of coyote attacks.
  One only needs to google “Coyote attacks” to find that they DO attack children and more often as of late. Steiner Res has every reason to be concerned and I think that Steinermama’s “terrier” comments are completely tacky and uncalled for.
  As for me: I didn’t move to Steiner for the “coyotes” or the “rattlesnakes”. I moved to the area because of the schools and for many other reasons.
  I have seen numerous coyotes right on the other side of our fence. 2 of them in the last 3 days.
  I understand that some may want to “protect the natural environment”. However, perhaps you should consider what will happen to these precious coyotes if/when they attack a child in Steiner. It is completely irresponsible to dismiss the possibility of a human attack and to make light of the situation. I also feel that it is very hypicritical for one to believe that if a child is attacked by a coyote, it must mean that they were not being supervised. “If you’re concerned about your children playing on the greenbelt, why not supervise them?” Most of the children that have been attacked by coyotes WERE being supervised by their parents.
  I totally agree with Stmbtsprgs and the hoa idea.
  Surely there is a way that we can alleviate this situation before it becomes much more of an issue or a national news story. I would like to believe that we can all be civil enough to handle the situation in a positive fashion and without making snide remarks about another residents fear for their family members/pets well being.

• 21 Trail User // Sep 24, 2008 at 1:46 pm

  Here is a good article concerning coyotes in Austin.

  http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/bm_urban_coyote_info.htm

• 22 mypursona // Sep 24, 2008 at 2:27 pm

  Did anyone read the National Geographic article that Stmbtsprgs posted?
  ( Curtis describes a progression of behavior in so-called problem coyote areas. First, the generally reclusive animals are increasingly spotted in daylight hours. Next, pets begin to vanish from yards and are even snatched off leashes by coyotes.

  “That’s the last stage before a human attack,” Curtis said. “And we’re at that stage in New York now.” New York wildlife officials hope to head off such conflicts before a serious attack or death occurs. )
  It would seem that this is exactly what we are experiencing here in Steiner Ranch based on numerous accounts by residents (including my own). They are clearly becoming less fearful of us and the majority of sightings that I have experienced recently have been during the middle of the day.
  The sad thing is that it will probably take an attack on a human (God forbid a child) before anything will be done about it.

• 23 Melissa // Sep 24, 2008 at 2:54 pm

  I just think it’s ridiculous when people move into an area with these animals and then act suprised when they see them. Do I like coyotes? Of course not! But I knew that they were around when we moved here. Same goes for the snakes. And I’m really tired of paying for exterminators to come out every couple of years to get rats out of my attic. But I knew that came with the territory when I moved here - especially since I have a greenbelt lot.

  And some of you may say that’s not why you moved to Steiner - that it was the schools, etc. - but there are plenty of good schools around Austin that are in much more developed areas.

• 24 TXN8TV // Sep 24, 2008 at 3:19 pm

  I agree Melissa.

  If you are not comfortable around wildlife why would you surround yourself with it?

• 25 Trail User // Sep 24, 2008 at 3:27 pm

  mypursona, you have quoted attacks in California & NY. How about research in Austin, TX.

  I also agree with Melissa….why move to an area with wild life if it makes you so uncomfortable?

• 26 Steiner Mom // Sep 24, 2008 at 3:46 pm

  I think we can all agree we didn’t move to Steiner for the snakes or coyotes but most of us should of been aware of the natural setting and wildlife before we moved in! The snakes and coyotes come along with it and it something to be aware and cautious of. I live on a greenbelt and am very aware of the dangers that lurk outside but I love the nature so I have choosed to educate my family on snakes, scroptions, trantulas, centipeds and coyotes. Coyotes are going to hunt and night so we have to keep are dogs/cats inside. Don’t leave dog or cat food out to attract rats/mice/coyotes, ect…My concern is do we have coyotes stalking poeple or snatching cats or dogs right from a leash? If so, then their might be a reason to think they could move to the next stage. Maybe certain areas have had more sightens then others and would should share that to help one another.

• 27 Fur Face // Sep 24, 2008 at 4:30 pm

  There are some real misconceptions on here about coyotes. I can speak from first hand experience because I was raised by a pack of coyotes. Sure, they did steal me from my mother. But after I was reunited with my mother on Dr. Phil, I realize they were a much better role model than she will ever be! I have found the coyotes around here to be particularly welcoming and you may even hear me howling at night. So leave my furry brothers alone!

• 28 Melissa // Sep 24, 2008 at 5:07 pm

  Fur Face -
  Bwaaaaaaaaaaa! That was good.

• 29 Tom // Sep 25, 2008 at 7:55 am

  I have lived in Steiner now for 4.5 years and had never seen one until today and it was a mangled mess on QP this AM.

  I have seen most every form of wildlife (fox, Roadrunners, deer, rattlesnakes, rodents, horned toads) while riding the trails but I always thought it was odd not to see them.

  I think these are all good suggestions about keeping an eye out.

• 30 mypursona // Sep 25, 2008 at 10:10 am

  First of all, I’m not a newby to the Steiner area and wildlife does not make me uncomfortable. We were very aware of the wildlife in the area before we moved here. However, the situation with the coyotes becoming so bold and unafraid of the Steiner residents more recently is a real reason for concern.

  To reiterate my point:
  Curtis describes a progression of behavior in so-called problem coyote areas. First, the generally reclusive animals are increasingly spotted in daylight hours. Next, pets begin to vanish from yards and are even snatched off leashes by coyotes.

  “That’s the last stage before a human attack,” Curtis said. “And we’re at that stage in New York now.” New York wildlife officials hope to head off such conflicts before a serious attack or death occurs.

  Steinermama: “My concern is do we have coyotes stalking poeple or snatching cats or dogs right from a leash? If so, then their might be a reason to think they could move to the next stage”

  These are written accounts from residents here in Steiner:
  “One of my friends here in the apartment took her Chihuahua out at about 2 am for a potty break and a coyote walked up behind her and grabbed him and ran off into the woods with him in his mouth…bold I must say”.
  “My husband and dog were followed by a coyote one evening and nothing my husband did could deter the coyote from following him”.
  “the coyote was essentialy stalking my wife and son, walking across from them, watching them, even stopping each time they stopped”
  “The coyotes aren’t afraid of anybody. We’ve used air horns, we’ve used whistles it doesn’t even stop them from growling. They could care less”

  How can you, in good conscience, make light of your fellow neighbors legitimate concerns?
  Perhaps some of you may feel differently than I do about your neighbors and their families. Perhaps you were raised by coyotes. Whatever works for you I suppose.
  Having an attitude of well if you don’t like the wild life, perhaps you should just move is not in the least bit productive or empathetic to the community. Nor does it encourage a friendly/welcoming environment for a situation that might require you needing your neighbor to help you out in some way. You never know, some day we might all have to rely on each other for one reason or another.
  Personally, I prefer to put my my family and my neighbors concerns above the coyotes. Sure it’s very possible that we may never have an attack on a child in Steiner. However, if we do, can you live with what you have written in this blog about your neighbors? Will you think your neighbors concerns are “ridiculous” then?

• 31 anon // Sep 25, 2008 at 1:25 pm

  Well said Mypursona!

• 32 Katie R // Sep 25, 2008 at 3:44 pm

  In south Texas, if a coyote is out in broad daylight, it usually mean one of two things. 1) they are REALLY desparate for food or 2) they might be rabid. For those who are unfamiliar with this, when an animal is rabid, it makes them, for lack of another word, “crazy”. And they will be more likely to act in a bold manner. To control the problem down south, they drop vaccine laced meat from the air into the brush to prevent coyotes from getting sick. Anyway, my point in all of this is that if I had children I would be very concerned as a parent about seeing coyotes in the daylight. Just my two cents.

• 33 mypursona // Sep 26, 2008 at 9:14 am

  Thank you anon

• 34 Anonymous // Sep 26, 2008 at 10:12 pm

  Ok, so I’m a bit unusual in that I moved to Steiner Ranch but don’t particularly love “nature” when nature means tarantulas, black widows, scorpions (all of which we’ve had in just a few short months here!), and yes, coyotes. I moved here in part for the schools, but mostly for the very beautiful surroundings (the kind of “nature” I like!). More to the point, I frequently walk my dog at 2 a.m. and would not be amused if he was snatched from his leash. My 6 and 1 year old frequently play in the front yard, and I’d rather they not be attacked.

  Yes, I get that the coyotes were here first, but we are at the top of the food chain and we’re here now! I am all in favor of trapping the coyotes and relocating them. Sure they’ll come back, eventually, but you trap them again and repeat as needed.

  In the meantime, it would be very helpful to know where people have seen coyotes within Steiner (i.e., has it been down towards the lake, near the schools, etc. so that we can have a sense of where the problem is (as well as letting the community association know!). For those that provided accounts, in addition to the apartments where are you seeing the coyotes?

• 35 mypursona // Sep 27, 2008 at 10:07 am

  I think you are right Anonymous. Before we do anything about the situation, perhaps we should find out just how frequently and where people are having these bold encounters with the coyotes. Maybe we could submit a request to the HOA and ask them to perform a survey with the residents of Steiner. They could ask the residents certain questions like, “have you ever had an encounter with a coyote since you have lived here in Steiner” if so, “when, where” “did you feel like the coyotes were acting aggressive in any way during your encounter?” or “Have any of your pets been attacked or have they dissapeared.” I think it’s very important that we get an accurate appraisal of the situation. It may be the case that only education is needed to resolve the problem. However, we could be experiencing an imbalanced population of coyotes.
  Imbalanced populations of coyotes have been known to become bold and move into human areas for easy meals, thus losing their natural wariness of humans. I agree that coyotes are a natural predator for other species that could become over populated without natural predators like coyotes to keep the balance in check. Maybe there is a simple solution that would make the coyotes less inclined to stalk residents or attack their pets. I think a good place to start dealing with the issue would be asking the HOA to get involved and to send out a questionnaire to the residents. That information could then be given to the Texas Wildlife Services for evaluation. At the very least, the residents will have an idea of where most of the incidents are taking place and how frequently they are happening.

• 36 Kim // Sep 27, 2008 at 6:34 pm

  The topic of coyotes is currently on the front page of the HOA: http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/

  I’ll include the topic page for when it’s no longer the top item: http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/steiner-ranch-news/latest/coyotes-in-steiner-ranch.html

• 37 Tracy // Sep 29, 2008 at 10:57 am

  I have been walking the trails with my dogs in Steiner twice a day for the last 10 years. I have only seen coyotes a handful of times and each time, they couldn’t get away from us fast enough! I have not seen the coyotes or even deer on the trails every since the deer hunting stands were put out on the undeveloped areas around the middle school and surrounding new neighbors five plus years ago for hunters to manage (shoot & kill) the wildlife so the population would not become a problem. However, I have been seeing rattlesnakes more often on the trails which I think people need to be more cautious of rather than the coyotes. One person thought my dog was a coyote so many people here obviously do not know what an actual coyote looks like. I also have a friend here in the neighborhood who’s dog does look somewhat like a coyote so I have to question some of these “coyote” sightings. For instance, the coyote at the back fence that wouldn’t go away, and also the person with the binoculars stating that the coyotes are “dangerously close” to people on the trails. I moved here for the trails and nature and really envy those who’s backyard is on a greenbelt. I consider it a treat to see animals in the wild and yes, coyotes too! Why on earth would someone build on a greenbelt lot and complain about the nature? As far as the women who lost 9 cats, we adopt our pets from animal shelters and most shelters will not adopt cats out to those who plan to make them outdoor pets. Thought I’d share my two cents on the issue, as well!

• 38 mypursona // Oct 3, 2008 at 2:15 pm

  I guess we can just hope that people actually DO CALL 311 when they DO have sightings and that all of the data will be accurately managed and accounted for by the Animal Control Program. Hopefully, the HOA (or someone) will keep us abreast with the information collected from Animal Control so that we residents will all have an accurate appraisal of the situation in the near future.

• 39 Michelle // Oct 5, 2008 at 4:10 am

  perhaps NOT LETTING THE EIGHT (!!!) CATS OUTSIDE would stop them from being killed or harmed by any coyote/animal/car/predator.

  Just a suggestion. Our cats and other animals don’t have the problems and the untimely endings described in the ‘coyote sighting’ story, and that’s because we keep them inside, with us.

  Family is family, and our pets are definitely a part of ours. We protect them like we protect each other, mostly because we took them in to give them safety, food, and love. Their innocent and expected dependance on safety comes from the owner who provides food and shelter. Why on earth would you let them outside?

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