Coyotes spotted roaming in Bellaire, Med Center

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Coyotes are getting a little too close for some families on the city's southwest side.

There have been at least two coyote sightings this week in Bellaire. A few weeks ago, one paid a startling visit to a family near the Medical Center.

"I said, 'Son, that's not a dog,'" Dr. Howie Gerber told his son when they spotted a coyote in their backyard. It was mid-morning on a Sunday, and they couldn't believe it.

"I didn't think we had them along Brays Bayou, but I guess we do," Gerber told Eyewitness News.

The dermatologist took some pictures of the animal and then watched as it struggled to get out of the fenced-in yard.

"She tried to get out through the gate. There was no escape. She tried to get out there, and then she hid behind this sago palm for a little while," said Gerber.

The coyote finally escaped through a doggie door in the fence, likely the way it got in. It's not unusual for police in the area to get reports about coyotes.

"We live in a heavily wooded area," said Bellaire Police Department Acting Corporal Greg Carson. "They're looking for food. They're looking for water and anything they can find."

Recent construction along the bayou may have displaced some animals. Officials advise residents not to leave food or water outside. Watch your pets, especially smaller ones, and if you see a coyote, never approach it.

Report a typo to the ABC13 staff