[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by loonlovers

Please folks, enough! I stated my opinion earlier in the thread and followed up with VCCD my objection to trapping and destroying coyotes in the Preserve areas. And, I still feel strongly that this is a very bad precedent for The Villages VCCD to be establishing in a preservation area. Apparently, cooler heads prevailed and the decision to trap the coyotes has been discontinued.

If any animal poses a direct threat to a neighborhood, be a coyote, bear or even aggressive dog, then action needs to be taken. Many people living in The Villages have never seen a coyote, or alligator, or even a snake in their neighborhood. But, they are around. Most of these animals go along with no threat to anyone. Once the coyotes are eliminated, are we then asking for all alligators to be caught and destroyed because one nearly snatched a dog that had been off lead and allowed to run by a retention pond. Of course not! Not any more than we ask for a breed of dog to be destroyed because some are considered "aggressive."

Kittygilchrist, you are right...we are not all Native Floridians. Some of us came from states that saw an abundance of wildlife around us. We are not ignorant of the need to be cautious of our environment. I had a small bear walk across my yard while I was gardening...he was as eager to be away from me and I from him! Did I ask my neighbor to shoot him? Of course not. He went along his way and I'm sure was happy to get back to the woods.

Please let's stop reporting on attacks that happened in other states. This does nothing but incite fear in individuals who haven't had any wildlife experience. Be observant, walk your pets on lead, and if walking at night take a noise maker.

And finally, remember we live in a beautiful community...this is not the "wild kingdom."