The first coyote incident of the summer in the Westbank occurred over the weekend near West Lake Hills, state officials said this week.

A resident on Westbrook Drive found the remains of a fawn carcass in his backyard that had likely been killed and partially eaten by a coyote.

State and county officials said predation by coyotes is not unusual in this area of the county, especially in the summer, but so far, there have been no reports this season, said Randy Farrar with the Texas Wildlife Service, a cooperative agency of state and federal officials.

“That’s pretty common,” Farrar said of the weekend’s grisly find. “The coyotes are having to feed pups right now and that is a primary food source for them.”

While the incident indicates that the small predators are in the area, it’s not a cause alarm, but rather normal behavior for this type of animal. The agency uses a threat scale of 0 to seven, with seven being a significant threat, to determine if wild animals like coyotes should be removed. A predator attack of the type seen this weekend would be a one on that scale, Farrar said.

The agency typically removes about 15-20 coyotes deemed threatening from Travis County each year.

County and state officials offered a few tips on guarding against predators. Pets should be kept in doors, especially at night. Trim trees and shrubs on your property away from fence lines and homes. Take down bird feeders that might attract small animals like squirrels and raccoons, a favorite snack for coyotes.

Most importantly, Farrar said, people are encouraged to harass coyotes and deer by yelling and throwing things at them to make them leave the area.

Anyone who spots a coyote or finds evidence of their presence are encouraged to call 311 and report the incident so state officials can track sightings.