SEALY, Texas – Like many spots in the Houston area coyotes are nothing new.
But in recent weeks and months neighbors say they've not only seen the animals increase in number but in aggressiveness as well.
They're attacking and killing cattle, and approaching people's homes more often.
Jesse Trevino owns a ranch near Highway 36 and FM 3013. He has donkeys that are good for keeping coyotes at bay, but a neighbor across the highway was recently bitten and scratched by a coyote right outside her home.
"She said she walked out and she thought it was another dog eating her dog food and she said ‘hey get back,'" said Trevino. "She thought the dog snapped at her and it was a coyote and it bit her finger and scratched her leg."
Local 2 had pest and animal control expert Claude Griffin come check out the property in Sealy.
Griffin says the best way to protect your family, pets, and property from the threat of coyotes is to make your home as unappealing as possible to the animals.
"You better make sure that drippy faucet, they're not getting any of your water," said Griffin.
"You want to starve them as much as you can. You lockdown, and when I say lockdown I mean literally lockdown your trash can."