Is it legal in Texas to kill a coyote that has attacked a pet or chickens? What you should know

Coyotes are a common sight on Texas ranches and in urban areas, but can you kill one?

Coyote sightings in the Metroplex are a common occurrence. Just look at neighborhood social media channels. One of the wild dogs even caused an Arlington park to be closed after attacking several children earlier this year. Last spring, a coyote was found in a Fort Worth backyard, apparently enjoying a sunny siesta.

However, the wild dogs have been known to attack other animals, such as cats and small livestock. So what exactly does Texas law say about retaliation for a dead pet?

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Is it legal to kill coyotes in Texas if they killed your pet?

Yes, state law allows the killing of coyotes if they prey on a domestic or livestock animal.

Section 822.013 of the Texas Health and Safety Code states that a coyote that is attacking or has recently attacked other animals may be killed in the following ways:

• Any person who witnessed the attack.

• The owner of the attacked animal or a person acting on his behalf, provided that the owner or person has knowledge of the attack.

In Texas, under these special circumstances, it is not necessary to have a hunting license to kill a coyote.

Is it legal to hunt coyotes in Texas?

Yes, in Texas you can hunt coyotes with a license.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department classifies coyotes as a non-huntable species, which requires a hunting license to hunt. There are no closed seasons or bag limits for non-huntable species.

However, there are also situations in which a hunting license is not required to hunt coyotes.

According to TPWD, hunting predatory or scavenging coyotes on private property does not require a hunting license as long as the hunter has permission from the landowner.

Generally, if you want to hunt coyotes that are not actively destroying private property, a hunting license is required. However, if you want to hunt coyotes that are destroying private property and have permission from the landowner, a hunting license is not required.

Why are coyotes seen near urban areas?

As people expand their homes and other buildings further into areas where wildlife once lived, the likelihood of encounters with coyotes increases, according to TPWD.

Here are some precautions the TPWD recommends Texans take when dealing with coyotes:

• Do not feed coyotes: Keep all pet food and water indoors and store trash safely.

• Keep compost bins covered: Never leave animal bones or fat in outdoor compost bins as they may attract coyotes.

• Keep pets indoors: Keep an eye on your pets outside or keep them in a secure kennel.

• Be alert at night: Keep your pets on a leash and accompany them outside at night

• Use noise to scare coyotes: Air horns or other loud devices can deter coyotes from approaching your property.