Wildlife

Living With Urban WildlifeSnake in the water eating a fish

The City of Farmers Branch is known for its "City in a Park" motto. Because of that, we have many species of wildlife that live in the city and travel along the creeks. Taking a few simple steps can help you prevent many of the most common wildlife-related problems around your home.

Animal Services and the Animal Adoption Center have limited resources to deal with wildlife. See the FAQs below for organizations that specialize in wildlife rescue.

Keeping Families & Pets Safe

  • If your pets are out of a fenced area, keep them on a six-foot leash. City ordinances require this, and it helps keep your pets safe from wildlife. The ordinance does not apply to Barney Wood Bark Park and private dog parks
  • Use the FBTX Connect app to report a coyote sighting. This helps us assess patterns and more effectively target coyotes
  • Officers are often out at dawn and dusk where there is visible coyote activity practicing harmless "aversive conditioning." We chase them into the woods or use a very bright flashlight, megaphone siren or car horn to remind them to stay hidden
  • Feeding wildlife, even feral cats, is dangerous for you and the animal that becomes reliant on humans instead of hunting. For feral cats, practice metered feeding - putting out food at scheduled times and leaving it temporarily while attended

raccoon trinity in the river near treesWildlife Behavior

Per Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's urban biologist recommendations, Farmers Branch does not trap or euthanize wildlife that is behaving appropriately.

Appropriate Behavior

  • Wild animals passing you in the night
  • Foraging or hunting in your yard when you are inside or on your balcony
  • Running away if you engage or approach them

Inappropriate Behavior

  • Approaching people
  • Hanging out in your yard near a food source during daylight hours

Aversive Conditioning or "Hazing"Coyote in the city square

Aversive Conditioning, or "hazing," is the practice of causing wild animals discomfort, upsetting their routine, or catching them by surprise. If you see a coyote or any type of wildlife on or uncomfortably close to your property, only engage them in a way they see as negative or unsafe. Throwing stones, yelling and making loud noises, and acting in a menacing manner are all great methods of hazing and don't result in any injury to the animal. Wild animals hate surprises, so using motion-triggered sprinklers is another way to make a bad impression. The goal is to remind them that this is your space.

Assess Your Results

  • Normal hazing results in the wildlife fleeing the area immediately
  • Acceptable hazing results in the wildlife fleeing but turning back to investigate. This is common when domestic dogs are nearby
  • Unacceptable hazing results include wildlife that doesn't move away as you approach. In this case, wildlife has likely been acclimated toward humans, which can be very dangerous
  • Report unacceptable behavior to Animal Services via FBTX Connect immediately so we can take appropriate actions