The City of Arlington, in collaboration with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services, has taken action to address concerns about coyote activity in Parkway Central Park following three separate incidents where children were bitten.
As a precautionary measure, Parkway Central Park, located at 600 Van Buren Drive, will be closed to the public until further notice. Barricades have been installed at park entrances, and digital message board signs along the park perimeter will alert the surrounding community about coyote activity. Additionally, nearby properties and the Arlington Independent School District have been informed about the situation.
Following a report of a coyote following pedestrians near the park, animal control and police officers will be present during student arrivals and departures at Arlington ISD’s Jones Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language on Thursday.
Brian Daugherty, Code Compliance Director, emphasized public safety as the priority, noting that while coyote sightings are common in Arlington, aggressive encounters are rare. Daugherty advised residents to avoid engaging with wildlife and to report sightings on the city's website.
“Public Safety is our priority and the City of Arlington had not previously experienced any coyote attacks. Coyotes and other wildlife are now part of our urban environment, and we need to find the best way to coexist,” Daugherty said. “There are always measures to take when walking paths and neighborhoods when you could come into contact with wildlife. Should you encounter wildlife, be sure to not engage with them and definitely do not feed them. Should you feel threatened be sure to make yourself as large as possible and appear intimidating. You can also bring whistles, air horns and walking sticks as an added deterrent.”
All three children bitten at the park between February 10 and February 13 have been treated for their injuries and released from the hospital. They will receive post-exposure rabies treatment as a precaution.
Arlington Animal Services initially set a trap at the park after being notified that a child had been bitten by a coyote there on Feb. 10. Searches for the coyote were unsuccessful, however. On Feb. 13, the City closed the park and Animal Services set additional traps and conducted patrols for the animal after receiving notification that another child was bitten that day. The City has since learned that another child had been bitten while visiting the park on Feb. 12.
The USDA wildlife staff will now work with the city to assess the situation and reduce the number of coyotes in the area, with removed coyotes being tested for rabies.
The families of the affected children will be notified of any developments regarding the trapped coyotes. The city aims to change the behavior of the coyote pack through these measures.
Click here to learn more about coyote behavior in urban environments. Arlington residents can also make an online report of a wildlife sighting by visiting the City’s Action Center webpage and scrolling down to “Wildlife Sighting.”
UPDATE (Feb 15, 2024):
Arlington Animal Services captured a coyote this morning believed responsible for biting three children at Parkway Central Park in separate incidents. The coyote will be humanely euthanized and transported to Texas Health and Human Services in Austin for rabies testing.
Because of the aggressive coyote activity at the park, an animal control officer and a police officer were present this morning for pedestrian safety during school drop-offs at Jones Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language. The officers saw the coyote on a road near the park and said that it charged them. Together, the officers were able to capture and secure the animal.
Parkway Central Park, 600 Van Buren Drive, will remain closed to the public until further notice.
