Published: March 12, 2008 02:05 pm         

Critter concerns continue in county

By David Wilfong

Herald-Banner Staff



Following reports of a mountain lion attacking a family pet in Rockwall last week, the Herald-Banner heard from several residents who voiced concern over that and other animals that have caused problems lately.

Linda Dunagan, a reader from the small Kaufman County community of Oak Grove stated, “I don't doubt Mr. Gilleland having seen a mountain lion at all, because I personally encountered a mountain lion last November, and the lion was not more than 10 feet from me. A beautiful specimen; blond fur, three to four feet long, another two feet of a long rope-like tail, and stood about two-and-a-half feet tall, with rounded ears.

“I was sitting in my recliner waiting for my husband to return from town where he was buying us take-out lunches when a movement outside the patio door caught my eye. I was so startled to see an actual lion slowly walking across the patio right in front of me, that I jumped to my feet, trying to decide what to do; scream to make the lion go another direction than on the path to the carport, or run back around to the back door in hopes of warning my husband of the impending danger. I actually made a 160 degree pivot while trying to decide, and by the time I completed the turn, the lion was gone. I'll never know if it jumped onto our large oak tree just to its right, and then onto our rooftop, or if it turned and ran from the direction it had come, Kings Creek.”

Ironically, when Dunagan retired from her job in Dallas she was replaced by Lee Gilleland, the same woman whose dog was attacked by what her husband reported was a mountain lion in Rockwall last week.

Melanie Miller, who lives a very short distance from the Gillelands, also had a pet that was attacked recently, though she can’t be sure by what.

“On Feb. 2 my husband went out into our back yard to find our little dog Ginger had been brutally attacked and killed,” Miller reported. “We thought it was a bobcat because what else could get in and out of our yard like that? We contacted animal control at the time and were told they had not had any reports of attacks but that bobcats were indigenous to the area and that people see them all the time. So bobcat or mountain lion? There is something out there and pets are not safe in their own back yards.”

Another reader, responding via the Rockwall County Herald-Banner Web site (rockwallheraldbanner.com) reported pets being taken from Lakeside Village.

“Our neighborhood, Lakeside Village on 30 near Snuffers has been really effected as well. We have had several dogs taken by bobcat and coyote recently, no telling how many cats. My friend saw two coyotes taking her big cat off, my next door neighbor lost a dog and my builder just lost his sheltie of 10 years,” she wrote. “Seems to happen early morning — 2-6 a.m. before it gets light. Could you run safety tips and that sort of thing in the in paper?”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers the following tips dealing with urban coyote populations (much of the same advice applies to bobcats and mountain lions):

• 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 trashcans that are not easily opened.

• Keep compost piles securely covered; correct composting never includes animal matter like bones or fat, which can draw coyotes more quickly than 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. Portable air horns, motor vehicle horns, propane cannons, starter pistols, low-powered pellet guns, slingshots, and thrown rocks can be effective.

In the case of mountain lions, it is also good to remember that the prime feeding time for these cats is between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. It is a good idea to avoid being out alone on secluded trails during dark hours, this is especially true for small children.

A public education poster distributed by the California Department of Fish and Game states, “If you encounter a mountain lion do not run; instead,face the animal, make noise and try to appear as large as possible. If attacked, fight back.”

On the north side of Rockwall, Bill Faulkner is dealing with another animal problem, but this one has nothing to do with a cat or dog of any size. Apparently Rockwall also has a small population of feral pigs. Besides being a threat to pets, Faulkner reported that the pigs have a habit of destroying property as well.

“We contacted the County Extension Service and were informed they could help but only after Rockwall Parks Department advised what they were allowed or not allowed to do to deter or apprehend the animals,” Faukner said. “Our concern is that these animals, in addition to the destruction of landscaping, pose a very real threat to people, pets, and other animals, especially with the summer warm weather coming on. Something must be done to contain, remove or destroy the pigs.”