Coyotes in Sewalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Coyotes in Sewalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Last night Angeline Scotten from the FWC presented information on the coyote to a packed room in Sewalls Point Town Hall.

Coyotes in Seawalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Coyotes are in Florida. They are everywhere. They are very intelligent. They mate in the winter and have pups in the spring. Both parents take care of the pups. They are monogamous. So when you see them together this is not a pack of coyotes. This is a family. A mother, a father and the kids on an outing to learn about the world because once they are ready they will leave to go to someplace new to have their own family. When they are all together they become very territorial much like us with our own families.

Coyotes in Seawalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

They eat eat a lot of different foods. They have been found eating human selected food sources, dog food. Most importantly they eat roaches and rodents. They do fill a niche that keeps certain populations in check that could predators to certain birds. On the other hand they can hurt some species like the burrowing owl and sea turtle nests.

Coyotes in Seawalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Coyotes will prey on domestic cats and small dogs. They can scale a 6 foot fence. Most attacks occur at night, dusk or dawn.

They are attracted by garbage. This was my take away message. We need to secure our garbage. The more they eat the more pups they produce.

Coyotes in Seawalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

How to prevent problems
1. DO NOT FEED THEM
It is illegal in Florida to feed coyotes.
2. Do not them intimidate you.
Haze them. Make loud noises. Spray with a hose. Do not stop until they have left. Do not run. Slowly back away while you are yelling. Make yourself appear bigger. They are curious but they timid and will generally run away if challenged.
3. If they are in your neighborhood you can carry some kind of noise making apparatus when you are walking your dog. You can make a coyote shaker by putting a few washers, pebbles or pennies in a soft drink can. ( I actually this with dog training when my dogs used to eat things off the coffee table). Haze until you cannot see them any more.

Coyotes in Seawalls Point: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

We did ask about the issue with the Langford estate and Angeline said that they left probably because their food source was gone. I imagine them living up there all those years eating rodents and now it will be interesting to see if there is an increased rodent problem.

They have also shown up at Jensen Beach Christian Church which is sort of funny since that’s where people go to go get food from Rev Guy and the food bank. Shows how smart they are. They know where the good and kind people are. Rev Guy said he has no issues with rodents and they are doing their job.