Ah, Uptown, the new urbanist haven. Young urban professionals thrive here, but has wildlife found a way?
An email with an interesting query hit my inbox a few months ago. The question came from a curious Dallasite. He had heard from a friend that there were Coyotes living in Uptown (just north of downtown Dallas), and he wanted to know if it was true.
It was a good question, to be sure. I suspected it was very likely true, but I did not know for sure. I did a quick check of my usual online resources, and came up empty. No one had reported a Coyote sighting in Uptown just yet–at least with the online resources that I had at my disposal..
So, that’s how I responded to the email–No confirmed Coyote sightings in Uptown.
But, now I was intrigued. And while I couldn’t answer the question with authority at the present, I suggested to the emailer, that I would look for an opportunity to investigate further.
I recently had that chance. Now I just needed a plan…
As I considered the options for pursuing this effort, I could tell this was going to be a tricky project. To further complicate matters, I did not have much time to dedicate to the attempt. This would be a one night, all-or-nothing shot.
I would need to find a discreet location that would also offer a reasonable chance that the target animal would make an appearance. That meant finding a spot with ample seclusion in order to minimize human disruptions. At the same time, the location would have to have a strong appeal to wildlife to improve the chances of catching a critter passing through. Altogether, this was going to be a tall order. A lot would have to go right for this project to be a success.
And, I can tell you right now that we did not record pictures of Coyotes in Uptown. That does not mean that they are not there, it just means I’ll need to revisit this project at a later date to secure the evidence needed for a definite answer.
But even though there were no Coyotes this time, I didn’t come away from this effort completely empty-handed. We did manage to record images of a few Uptown critters, and I thought you might like to see them. I’ve included the pictures below–all taken in the shadow of downtown Dallas…
About 10 years ago, caught in a backup on Walnut Hill at 75, I saw a coyote run from between two houses close to the intersection. It ran across the stopped traffic and down the street that ran parallel to 75. I was shocked that it was there in Highland Park, but after looking at a map, I realized that it could get through town easily by following the creek beds. Since then I’ve seen lots of wildlife that has adapted to surburban and urban living.
I saw a coyote last night 11/09/2020 on Buena Vista st at Haskel in uptown Dallas 75204.
It was at midnight. Looked like a young male approximately 1 year old. He was moving quickly and looked spoked.
BTW I am an avid outdoorsman and have hunted around the world including Africa, Alaska, and all over Texas. I am 100% sure it was a coyote.
This evening around 11:30 I saw an adult-size coyote at the intersection of Bowen & Cole Ave. It was running down the steeet then up the hill onto Katy trail.
I was walking my dogs, about 50 yards away. It did not see me. By no mistake was it a wild dog, I am familiar with coyotes and this was no doubt a full adult male coyote.
Tonight right behind my apartment complex( turtle creek and cedar springs )in an open field of grass a coyote tried attacking my medium sized blue heeler dog. I sprinted towards it screaming but it wasn’t very scared of me. Luckily my dog is okay but he must have been desperate to not fear me.