CORTEZ – Coyote activists, cat lovers, bird advocates and residents grieving over pets killed by coyotes occasionally bared their teeth at each other last week at an educational workshop on how to live with wild coyotes.
The diverse group questioned state wildlife officers, Manatee County sheriff’s deputies, county animal services and natural resources officers, county commissioners and wildlife advocates about coyotes in Cortez.
Second Place
Environmental Conservation
2010
Before it ended, coyotes were blamed for killing dogs, cats, small wildlife and turtle eggs, feral and pet cats were accused of killing birds and small wildlife, dogs were accused of attacking humans more than coyotes do, coyotes and cats were praised for killing rodents and people were threatening to hunt and kill coyotes.
Cortez resident Linda Molto, who organized the meeting, wore a tag with the names of her two cats, which she said are among dozens of Cortez pets killed by coyotes in the past six weeks. Another resident described her dog being attacked two days before the meeting by a coyote that leaped from in between two parked cars.
The best way to protect pets is to keep them indoors, leash them when they’re outside, avoid leaving food and water outside, keep outdoor garbage sealed and never feed coyotes, according to Lisa Hickey, a naturalist instructor with the Manatee County Department of Agriculture and Resource Conservation. Fencing is not effective at night, but may provide some daytime protection for pets that are outdoors for short periods if it is 5-6 feet high and buried at least 6-8 inches deep.
If approached by a coyote, yell and wave your arms, throw rocks and pick up small pets, she said, suggesting carrying a stick or golf club on dog walks, especially at dawn or dusk or near water.
The techniques worked for residents in northwest Bradenton near Robinson Preserve two years ago when coyotes were killing pets there, she said.
Residents speculated whether those coyotes had left the area and traveled to Cortez, or whether they are coming from the Manatee Fruit Co. flower farm or the recently-cleared FISH Preserve, both nearby.
Ken Hawkins of Manatee Fruit Co. said he has only seen three coyotes on the property. Hickey said that removing plants from the FISH Preserve is not likely the cause of coyote activity; it’s more likely that increased development has boxed the animals in, she said.
No statistics on local coyote populations are available.
Cortez resident Jane von Hahmann suggested that residents keep a list of when, where and how many coyotes they see, and leave the information at the Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez at 119th Street West and Cortez Road to start a database.
Fortunately, Hickey said, no human fatalities from coyotes have been recorded in Florida, and people are more likely to be attacked by a dog than a coyote, but adults and children have been killed by coyotes elsewhere.
Molto inquired whether a license would be needed to hunt coyotes on the FISH Preserve, which borders homes and Cortez Road.
Coyotes are fair game all year around with a hunting license, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Lt. Tom Ware said, warning that anyone using a firearm is responsible for where the bullets land.
The state will not trap and remove coyotes, Ware said, adding that most trappers will not handle coyotes because they can carry rabies, they can be vicious when cornered, and, by state law, they must be euthanized after capture.
Hunting or trapping coyotes only causes population increases, according to Project Coyote’s Becky Bailey Pomponio, who implored residents not to kill the animals.
But coyotes also kill small wildlife, such as raccoons, which are disappearing from Cortez, pet owners said, prompting Damen Hurd, who leads tours at Mixon Fruit Farms, to say that feral cats do as much damage to small wildlife as coyotes.
Cats also keep down rodent populations, Molto said.
Coyotes also eats rodents, Hickey said.
Nancy Dean of the Manatee County Audubon Society said feral and domestic cats have caused the extinction of 33 species of birds.
“Cats are supposed to be on a leash,” she said. “And 43 percent let their pet cats out,” attracting coyotes in the process.
“The problem is that people are leaving their cats outside,” agreed Gail Straight with Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation in Bradenton Beach.
According to the county’s animal ordinance, dogs and cats are not allowed to be “at large,” or outside unsupervised, either on public property or on private property without the property owner’s consent, according to Joel Richmond, officer supervisor for Manatee County Animal Services, which handles domestic animals, but not wildlife. If cats are outside unsupervised on their owner’s property or have permission to be on a neighbor’s property, they must have a license tag and microchip, tattoo or ear tip, and also must be sterilized, he said.
Owners or handlers must have direct control of dogs and cats at all times, such as on a leash or inside a fence, he said.
While no coyotes have been reported on Anna Maria Island, coyotes can swim and cross bridges, said Ware, adding that he once saw a coyote walking on the Sunshine Skyway bridge spanning Tampa Bay. They are known to prey on sea turtle eggs in Florida’s Panhandle, Hickey said.
To report coyote problems, call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
