Coyote sightings are increasing in Florida. These wild animals are being blamed for a growing number of missing pets.
Recently, Ocala resident Jack Miller reported a pack of coyotes took his small dog, Jax, from his back yard right as he watched. Joy Hill with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said coyotes have been reported to take dogs while their owners were walking them on leashes. Hill says Miller’s story isn’t unusual.
“Yeah, they’ll just be out walking their dog, or let the little dog out in the back yard, and little do they know, a coyote is out there. And they’re very, very fast; they snatch the dog and run off. So yes, it’s not isolated by any means,” said Hill.
She says coyotes live in every county in Florida. She says residents can take precautions to avoid attracting them, like not leaving food outside. Even bird feeders, which often lure squirrels and other small rodents, can attract coyotes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation guide to coyotes can be found at http://myfwc.com/coyote.