Back in 2004, we covered the battle of man vs. coyote in League City. Now it appears the wily canines have moved the battlefront closer to town.

WestUInstantNews picks up the, um, tail:

Coyotes and bobcats have recently been spotted prowling the border of Bellaire and West University Place, prompting a police warning: Keep a close eye on family pets, and never leave food outside.

Over the past few weeks, a Bellaire resident lost four pet deer to coyote and bobcat attacks. The woman used a motion-sensor camera to capture images of the predators.

"During the night they'd come in the yard and they'd kill the deer and eat them," said Byron Holloway, assistant chief of the Bellaire Police Department.

The Bellaire resident's large backyard sits adjacent to the greenbelt area surrounding the Union Pacific railroad tracks. Sightings of coyotes and bobcats are not uncommon in such areas, Holloway said.

And also along the greenbelts that surround what few area bayous we haven't denuded and concreted.

Cats and small dogs are especially in danger in such areas.

If your pet is taken by a coyote, you might never know. Six years ago Texas Parks and Wildlife mammalologist told our Wendy Grossman that unlike stray dogs, coyotes leave little evidence behind. They will eat everything, including the bones, though Young said they might leave some fur behind. If you live in an area with coyotes, he recommended putting cats on a leash. (It must be noted here that he seems to have more experience with coyotes than cats if he thinks that's a good idea, or even possible.)

While it's always open season on coyotes, but that's kind of moot, as it is against the law to discharge a firearm in Houston, Bellaire, and West University. Unless, of course, you are willing to use more creative Roadrunneresque means of coyote control.