Dallas Animal Services follows a hazing-first coyote management policy. Texas Parks and Wildlife classifies coyotes as nongame; residents may legally haze coyotes to restore fear of humans, while lethal removal is reserved for confirmed aggressive animals.
Dallas Animal Services partners with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department under a coexistence framework that emphasizes hazing rather than relocation or routine euthanasia. Residents are encouraged to actively haze coyotes by yelling, waving arms, throwing small objects, spraying water, or using shaker cans to reinforce wariness of humans. Feeding coyotes intentionally or indirectly through unsecured trash, pet food, or fallen fruit is prohibited under Dallas Code Chapter 7 and supports a citation. Lethal control by city contractors occurs only after documented escalation: a coyote losing fear, stalking pets on leash, or biting a person. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code allows landowners to take coyotes causing depredation.
Feeding coyotes, leaving pet food outdoors overnight, dumping unsecured trash, harboring or relocating wild coyotes without permits, or discharging firearms inside Dallas city limits to kill coyotes triggers code citations and possible state wildlife violations.
Dallas, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife requires a Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit before anyone in Dallas may possess injured or orphaned wildlife. Residents finding wildlif...
Dallas, TX
Dallas does not have a specific citywide ordinance prohibiting wildlife feeding. Dallas City Code Chapter 32 (Parks) restricts certain activities in parks, a...
Dallas, TX
Dallas requires dogs on leash in public. Off-leash in designated parks only. License and rabies vaccination required. TX HSC §822.013 covers dogs at large.
See how Dallas's coyote management rules stack up against other locations.
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