Leaders in a Dallas suburb are facing backlash over how they’ve chosen to respond to a recent rise in coyote activity. This week, the City of DeSoto announced plans to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to curb incidents involving coyotes, including several reported attacks on pets.
According to a public notice, the coyote removal operation was scheduled for early Wednesday morning, beginning around 2 a.m. The targeted area was between East Wintergreen Road and East Belt Line Road to the north and south, and I-35E and North Westmoreland Road to the east and west.
The operation was to be carried out by USDA Assistant Director Supervisor Adam Henry and a partner traveling in a gray truck. They were directed to alert the Southwest Regional Communications Center (SWRCC) before and after the operation to ensure dispatchers were aware of their presence.
USDA Wildlife Services planned to remove coyotes from their vehicles in coordination with DeSoto police. Officials warned that residents might hear gunfire during the operation, adding that it would be part of the planned removal and “should not be cause for alarm.”…