The City of Arlington has taken decisive action in partnership with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services to trap and remove aggressive coyotes from Parkway Central Park following a spate of biting incidents. The park, located at 600 Van Buren Drive, is now off-limits to the public as local officials ramp up their efforts to address the wildlife threat.
After a series of alarming encounters, including three children being bitten in separate instances, the city has erected barricades and placed digital message boards around the perimeter to alert the community. Police and animal control officers were dispatched to ensure the safety of students in the vicinity, especially those attending the nearby Arlington ISD’s Jones Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language. According to the City of Arlington, Texas, local officials were prompted into action by a 911 call about a coyote exhibiting bold behavior towards pedestrians.
Encounters with aggressive coyotes are generally uncommon in Arlington, says Code Compliance Director Brian Daugherty. Residents are accustomed to their presence but not to their threat. "Public Safety is our priority and the City of Arlington had not previously experienced any coyote attacks," Daugherty explained. He reinforced the importance of public awareness and precautions around wildlife, as per the City of Arlington, Texas.
Authorities have confirmed that all three of the bitten children received medical treatment for their injuries and have left the hospital. As an additional safety measure, they will undergo post-exposure rabies treatment. Initial efforts to trap the coyotes commenced following the first reported bite on February 10, without success. However, subsequent incidents on February 12 and 13 led to an escalated response including additional traps and patrols. The USDA team will now assess the area and determine how to best manage the coyote population and alter the pack's behavior.
The captured coyotes will be tested for rabies, with the results being communicated directly to the families involved in the biting incidents. This decision comes as a community safeguard, hoping to restore peace of mind to the shaken residents and ensure the park's tranquility in the future.
