I saw my first coyote last week and I haven’t been able to shake the image from my thoughts.
There he or she was in broad daylight just after 4 p.m. running through a front yard along Indian Rocks Road in the very upscale, well-manicured community of Belleair.
I almost drove off the road. Wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t have my camera.
I’ve been well aware of the presence of coyotes here in Pinellas County for awhile now. In fact, I’m convinced my 12-year-old cat, Stormy, was nabbed from my yard during the dead of night last May by a coyote. Stormy, who never ventured off my property, vanished without a trace – something for which I actually feel fortunate, though it broke my heart, since I know of at least two people who’ve discovered discarded body parts of their beloved cats left behind by the night-hunting coyotes.
My neighbors and I have heard packs of coyotes howling and yipping in the middle of the night. Those are some eerie sounds.
What startled me when I saw the Belleair coyote is that it was in the middle of the day next to a busy roadway, and the coyote was just cruising right along. My false sense of security that they are only night-time predators vanished in an instant.
Researching the coyote phenomenon, you will find this comment on the Pinellas County Animal Services Web site: “They are here to stay in Pinellas County.” Yep, coyotes are just part of Florida life – like alligators, mosquitoes, Palmetto bugs, and stingrays. We might as well just get used to it. However, there are things we can do to at least try to keep coyotes at bay.
Coyotes are highly adaptable and they will eat just about anything, including the garbage that some people carelessly leave outside of secured garbage cans. According to Welch Agnew, director of PCAS, with whom I’ve had several coyote conversations, that is a major no-no. If you make life in your neighborhood less attractive to coyotes, they’ll likely move on. For heaven’s sake, do not feed coyotes. It’s hard to believe, but apparently some people actually do that. Don’t leave pet food or water outside. Keep pets inside. Admittedly, that one is tough for me, since my cats have always adored sunning in the driveway and Blue, in particular, is a total free spirit who insists upon coming and going as he pleases. No need for a lecture about outside cats, I’ve heard it all before. I miss gentle Stormy every day.
Coyotes breed in the winter and pups are typically born in February, which probably explains why they are so active right now. While it is actually legal to hunt and trap coyotes in Florida, it is not legal to be firing off a gun in your neighborhood. So it’s a bad idea to try and take matters into your own hands. Coyotes are very difficult to trap. There have been attempts to trap them in the East Lake Woodlands area, to no avail. These critters are wily, indeed. For the time being, the attitude among those who deal with wildlife is that coyotes are handled on a case-by-case basis and unless one is a serious threat, they will let them be.
Keep dogs, especially small dogs, on a leash. Coyotes naturally fear humans, but not so much when an easy food source is involved. They’ve been known to snatch or lure dogs when the opportunity prevents itself. Should you come upon a coyote make loud noises, puff out your chest to look bigger (I didn’t make that up) or just do whatever it takes to scare them off. Attacks on humans are rare, but not unheard of. I’d carry a big stick when walking the dog, especially after dark, if coyotes are known to frequent your neighborhood.
Experts also advise not to leave young children unattended, even in a backyard. That is a sobering reminder that the wild creatures with whom we share this planet must be given due respect and should never be taken lightly. We aren’t talking about a cartoon here, folks.
In dealing with coyotes, vigilance is essential.
Chary Southmayd is the editor of the Belleair Bee.
