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City, humane society propose "Operation Pavlov" for coyote hazing and public education
Summary
The Humane Society and Animal Services proposed training, public education and a targeted hazing program — including use of less-lethal devices and cross-training with Galveston Police — to address rising coyote encounters. Council asked staff to produce a three-month plan and draft ordinance changes on feeding wildlife.
Galveston Island Humane Society and the city’s Animal Services presented a draft coyote-management approach they called an enhanced hazing program — “Operation Pavlov” — at the Feb. 27 workshop, recommending a mix of public education, volunteer hazing training and a trained, limited-use response team that could include less‑lethal tools.
Josh Henderson, executive director of the Galveston Island Humane Society, told council coyotes on Galveston have distinctive genetics and draw research attention, but residents are reporting more frequent and bolder encounters. He urged an approach that pairs public education (how to reduce attractants such as unsecured garbage or pet feeding) and community hazing training with a city response capability to deploy when animals show problematic behavior.
Animal Services supervisor Kristen Thompson described the department’s limited capacity (the unit currently has only a few officers and is recruiting) and supported training a small number of Galveston Police Department officers to use a “less-lethal” round launcher (commonly used by law enforcement) to deter coyotes when other hazing techniques are ineffective. Thompson and Henderson emphasized hazing techniques (yelling, noise, blowing whistles, using water, and trained deterrents) rather than lethal control, and recommended public outreach, volunteer hazing teams (non-firearm responses) and a trained, city-supervised limited-use team for cases requiring immediate removal.
Council members asked for specifics: how volunteers would be trained and vetted, whether policies on feeding wildlife should be revised to make intentional feeding a citable offense, and how to avoid relocating conflicts to other neighborhoods. Animal Services recommended a pilot program that would (1) expand public education immediately via city communications, (2) recruit and train volunteers for community hazing, (3) provide targeted training for a handful of GPD officers on less-lethal deployment for emergency hazing, and (4) develop an ordinance to prohibit intentional feeding of wildlife and a veterinarian/clinic reporting requirement for wildlife bites.
Council asked staff to deliver a three-month report with an implementation plan, training schedule and budget estimate and to coordinate with Police and the city attorney on legal/regulatory issues. Council also asked Animal Services to share draft outreach materials with each council member for comment.
What’s next: Animal Services and the Humane Society will prepare a three‑month plan and draft ordinance language for council review; staff will coordinate with Police on training and with the city attorney on legal limits to data requests and less-lethal device use.
