Fox? Panther? - roaming in Collier

[Hopeful2]

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up (especially if you have a dog or have children visiting) that there's an animal roaming around homes in Collier. Several of my neighbors believe it's a gray fox...or possibly a panther. I'm not sure what it is, but I watched it go up to the front door of homes. It was last seen in the area of Neaptide Path and Wentrop Ave.

[DonH57]

Coyote maybe?

[Lovey2]

Most likely a coyote, and I only say that because there have been numerous sightings of one here in Gilchrist and also Fernandina and Sanibel. Please keep your pets inside. Thank you for letting us know to be watchful in Collier, also.

[tomwed]

About 6 months ago I was in my car in the big cypress rec center parking lot [collier] and spotted a coyote. I followed it as best I could. I've seen them on TV and in zoos but was not sure what I was looking at. It was night time and I described it as brown and mangie looking like it was sick about the size of a small dog or cat. One of neighbors told me what it probably was.

I wonder if that's what you saw too.

[Boudicca]

We live in buttonwood and a neighbor let their cat out before bed (sadly no birdcage or lanai) . Within minutes There was a horrible noise and before the owner could get outside their cat was gone. Sad lesson about keeping our pets safe

[CassieInVa]

Shrandell, what got their cat? Do they know?

[Boomer]

Coyotes are everywhere, now. Even cities. Coyotes are smart and highly adaptable. Their population pattern began changing rapidly at the end of the last century.

One morning I was surprised to see a sleek coyote run across our suburban Ohio patio. I thought they were nocturnal by nature, but I guess not always. I called my neighbors to tell them so they did not let their pets outside alone, at any time of day or night. Pets are easy prey for coyotes.

I am linking here an article from Smithsonian. The title is "City Slinkers." -- gotta love that title. If you would like to know a little more about coyotes and what they have been up to lately, you might like to read this.

History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/city-slinkers-12208091/?page=1)

[mixsonci]

Should I keep my cat off the Lanai also? I'm thinking that I should, but she loves to lay out there especially in the evening?

[Medtrans]

Fox walked thru our backyard a couple of weeks ago here in Lake Deaton. Middle of the afternoon.

[Lovey2]

Should I keep my cat off the Lanai also? I'm thinking that I should, but she loves to lay out there especially in the evening?

I'm not sure it would/could come thru the screen. If the screens are properly installed they are hard to even push out. That being said, we still keep an eye on our cats when they are out there at night. There has been quite a few sightings of a coyote in our immediate neighborhood.

[Boudicca]

We don't know for sure what took the cat, but we think it might have been the bob cat which has been sighted along homes adjacent to the county road. Another neighbor lets her cat out onto the screened lanai, and one evening she heard "a fairly large animal" rummaging in the base of the shrubs which screen her lanaii. The neighbor yelled, and the animal ran off. I agree with the other poster, that lanai screens are sturdy and likely sufficient to keep out smaller predators. We also see foxes, and I'm guessing it was a fox foraging beneath the shrubs for mice.

[HimandMe]

We keep our cat inside especially at dusk when predators usually start roaming after our friend's cat tore through the screen frightened by thunder and lightening. If a cat can get out....a bigger predator can get in.

[GeoGeo]

I'm not sure it would/could come thru the screen.

Just wanted to mention that the mini dachshund we used to have ran that through the screen on the lanai. It was in good shape before that. They loved to chase the lizards in the courtyard. They had a doggie door, but this was a shorter route. So a determined animal can go through screening. I don't know if it makes a difference them pushing against it one direction or the other (pushing out vs in).

[Sandtrap328]

[QUOTE=GeoGeo;1098327So a determined animal can go through screening. I don't know if it makes a difference them pushing against it one direction or the other (pushing out vs in).[/QUOTE]

If a larger predator could push inward through the screen on a lanai and the door to the house is open, what is to keep a larger predator such as a coyote or a black bear from pushing in the screen and coming (not only onto the lanai) but into the house?

Also, a determined burglar could do the same thing.

Probably deadbolt locking the door from the lanai to the house every night is the best idea.

[davekroupa]

I've seen a bobcat in this area. Bigger then a house cat but smaller then a medium dog.

[gap2415]

I've seen a bobcat in this area. Bigger then a house cat but smaller then a medium dog.

We had lots of bobcats near us in SW Florida but they bothered no one unlike the alligators who knew exactly which lanais had a little dog. Now pets outside lanais were fair game for everything especially an owl in the neighborhood.

[bluesky2015]

I'm almost afraid now to walk my 2 dogs for fear a coyote, bobcat or anything else can come and attack them, very scary!!!!

[HimandMe]

Has anyone in TV ever had their pets attacked on a leash in daylight? I've never heard of any at all. It's possible but I think not probable, perhaps other dog owners can reassure you.

We see some beautiful wild creature and love to share the experience but most rarely if ever run into one, let alone interact with one in a dangerous situation. My husband has lived here since the early 60s and rarely has seen much other than eagles and Hawks and the odd alligator at safe distance.