Comments on: Coyotes in Steiner Ranch

By: aBritAbroad

aBritAbroad — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

We saw a coyote at around 4.30pm one afternoon last week – about 50 yards from the main Quinlan Road to the West – it was just standing, seemingly trembling with tension and looking directly across the road – totally focused and alert.

Then I think it was Sunday night – maybe 3am – we were woken by a phenomenal chorus of howls and yips – we back to green land.

It is a little unnerving – I won’t walk up the road alone to collect the mail at night – I am skittish like a gazelle when we leave the house early, and still in darkness, in the morning – it is ironic – we pulled out of buying a house nearer Georgetown as I wanted to be in a more manicured neighborhood – we’re not unhappy – but we’ve a lot to learn.

I was convinced we had a real problem 3 weeks ago – something outside was making almost cat like growls and well how can I describe it… sloshy noises – like it was eating something wet – bloody? In the light of day we think it may have been….. a bullfrog – yes – we’re new!

By: Random Steiner Resident

Random Steiner Resident — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve lived in Steiner over a decade and I haven’t heard anything about a sharpshooter killing deer here. In Lakeway in 2000 they were going to hire sharpshooters but ended up transporting 1000 deer down to private ranchland in Mexico. In the last year, officials in NW Austin have discussed trapping or killing deer, but to my knowledge nothing’s been done.

By: aggiegreg

aggiegreg — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Hey, all you coyote, snake, and rat lovers…since you value them over pets and humans, why don’t we trap them all and distribute them to your backyard for you to take care of. Get a grip people! You idiots probably didn’t know that a professional sharp-shooter was brought in years ago so steiner didn’t have the deer population issues. That is why you don’t see many. I just killed a 4 1/2 foot rattlesnake in my backyard. I have a 2 year old and I am an avid outdoors man. However, I don’t choose to live with anything that could potentially harm my family which also includes my pets. If I see a coyote in my backyard or in site, you can bet they won’t live long. If we all protect ourselves we don’t need to wait on government to do it.

By: MattinAustin

MattinAustin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I just found this blog entry. It’s old, but has a few new-ish comments.

Unfortunately our cat was attacked on our front porch this morning in Steiner. I didn’t hear anything but went out the front door at 7am anyway for some reason… I caught two coyotes on our porch and chased them (in bare feet) into the woods. Unfortunately one was carrying my cat’s body (partial) in its mouth so there wasn’t much to do about it. He was already gone.

We just moved in. We were worried about the coyotes here behind our house, but our cat has lived with coyotes close by when we lived on the greenbelt in Long Canyon and on our property in Boston. He had fought them off a few times and was very shrewd.

We had huge packs of coyotes behind us in Long Canyon (2222/360), but they always ran away and stayed back in the woods mostly. Here in Steiner in a month of living here I’ve seen coyotes 12 different times, often in broad daylight. I can tell you that they are much more aggressive here than I’ve seen other places.

I’m worried about my 10 month old and my 3 year old. They should be able to play on our porch, yard, and in our cul-de-sac without my worrying about coyote attacks.

Don’t take them lightly, when I was chasing them this morning they were very tactical and regimented in their actions. One protected the other and they acted in unison. I’m a big guy and I was carrying a big maglight, but when I realized where I was after chasing them in the woods I actually got a bit nervous. Those things are scary – much more like wolves than dogs.

I called 311 to report it since it happened on my front porch and I caught them doing it. I wish I could shoot them. I’m not a gun person, but it scares me that they’re so brazen to have come up onto my porch in the daylight.

I’m going to do something about this on/around my property. Not sure what yet, but it would be nice if our taxes could enable some hoa or governmental help on this since it’s a shared problem for our community.

By: SwissinAustin

SwissinAustin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you for all the interesting comments. I’ve just moved here from Switzerland so did not know there were coyotes here.
When there are sharks in the ocean, the bathers are warned against swimming but the sharks are not removed. Of course swimming is a leisure, not a necessity, such as going to school or getting fresh air on a walk.
I suppose if the two species must live in close proximity (man & coyotes), we must be prepared to defend ourselves and our smaller persons and animals and we must stay in groups.
And I also think that if the coyotes are attacking people, we have to consider what can be done to stop this.
As humans, we cannot allow natural selection to attack and kill our weaker fellow beings. Otherwise we would not be worthy of the term “society”.

By: Laid back

Laid back — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I more of a they were here first kind of guy. I can relate to the concerns of a few of a few of you. I have two young kids and would never want anything bad to happen to them. I’m much more concerned with poisonous snakes because they are so hidden. I relocated a rattle snake out of my yard and drove it to a deserted country road. I refuse to kill a animal that is trying to survive just like me. Please stop leaving your animals outside.
Also where we moved from it was common practice when you took a walk to carry a golf club in case of a coyote encounter.

By: Jerome

Jerome — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/29/canada.singer.killed/index.html

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

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?

By: mypursona

mypursona — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

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.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

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!