Tyler, Texas — Coyotes have been spotted within the city limits more, according to reports to Tyler Animal Control. Bob Gardner from the Animal Control tells KETK it's because of the all the hot weather we had, he says "Last year with the drought we had coyotes and other wildlife come looking for water and while they were here they also found a very abundant food source." —your pets!

Because the Coyotes found food and water here in the city they decided to stick around.

They are called "urban coyotes."

Coyotes like small animals, Gardener says. They also like to hunt and kill their animals, so setting out traps with dry food doesn't always work.

We have had reports of a lot of Coyotes being spotted near the Hollytree Golf Course in Tyler, and many other surrounding areas. We went to speak to the people at the country club and they said they have seen them running around there a lot lately.

Hollytree Assistant Supervisor for the grounds crew at the golf course, Adam Lesmiester, tells KETK they live in the woods behind the course, he says " I'll turn around and see them running through the fairway they crew on our ropes....they live behind the woods kind of  back by the shop and mud creek so we see them running around through there sometimes I mean we have seen lots of wildlife around this year."

The Texas Parks and Wild Life suggests the following for keeping the Coyotes at bay, and you pets safe:

There are some common sense precautions people can take to manage coyotes:

◦Do not feed coyotes! Keep pet food and water inside. Keep garbage securely stored, especially if it has to be put on the curb for collection; use tight-locking or bungee-cord-wrapped trash cans that are not easily opened.

◦Keep compost piles securely covered; correct composting never includes animal matter like bones or fat, which can draw coyotes even more quickly that decomposing vegetable matter.
◦Keep pets inside, confined securely in a kennel or covered exercise yard, or within the close presence of an adult.
 

◦Walk pets on a leash and accompany them outside, especially at night.
 

◦Do not feed wildlife on the ground; keep wild bird seed in feeders designed for birds elevated or hanging above ground, and clean up spilled seed from the ground; coyotes can either be drawn directly to the seed, or to the rodents drawn to the seed.

◦Keep fruit trees fenced or pick up fruit that falls to the ground.
 

◦Do not feed feral cats (domestics gone wild); this can encourage coyotes to prey on cats, as well as feed on cat food left out for them.
 

◦Minimize clusters of shrubs, trees and other cover and food plants near buildings and children's play areas to avoid attracting rodents and small mammals that will in turn attract coyotes.

◦Use noise making and other scaring devices when coyotes are seen. Check with local authorities regarding noise and firearms ordinances. Portable air horns, motor vehicle horns, propane cannons, starter pistols, low-powered pellet guns, slingshots, and thrown rocks can be effective.