[MDLNB]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Oh, MDLNB! In my life I live exposed to the possibility and the potential of property/personal incursions from, deer, bear, moose, gators, possum, squirrels, groundhog, fox, wild turkey, hawks - so the last thing I am is NOT aware of wildlife and do not ignore same. In fact, because of my awareness I take every possible means to avoid it...and that is perhaps why I have not incurred their bite and rabies shots. So you see, I don't 'gaff off' any potential for danger from a nuisance. Nor have I ever suggested that anyone do that - but - have promoted awareness without fear mongering.

Hope my dissertation did not sound like "fear mongering". I did go through rabie shots, the old series. Of course, mine weren't from being bit by a coyote. My bite was from a big rat in Vietnam, that bit me while I was sleeping near a village. He did get away, so I had to have the shots. Not a fun thing. I'm sure that if I would have had a small pet with me, it would have carried it away for consumption at a later date. It certainly was big enough.

Remember when you suggest harassing a hungry animal, that some of our seniors are a bit fragile and not able to gamely skip away if that same animal doesn't play along. But, I do go along with the idea of shouting, using a stick, stones or golf balls, whistles and spray. Of course, that still leaves the problem unresolved. I think it would be different if these were small and hardly dangerous rodents or birds. But, like I said before, I doubt I will be accosted by any coyotes. And like I also said, if so and they threaten my family, I will treat them the same as I would any thug doing the same thing, put it down.

[MDLNB]

Originally Posted by zonerboy

Quite sure there have been coyotes in the villages, particularly in the undeveloped or yet to be developed parts. We just didn't see them because they were wandering about in their natural habitat where there was plenty of prey. So when you take a area like that surrounding Lake Deaton, dig up all the naturally occurring trees and brush, bulldoze it into large piles and set them on fire in order to level the land for building new houses, then you are going to have displaced coyotes wandering about in the open looking for something to eat. I guess they have not been too successful if they consider pets to be a primary food source.....one small dog and possibly a couple of cats on lanais. The cats could just have easily been snatched by a larger sized stray dog, in my opinion. So I believe eventually they will move on to surrounding area which are less inhabited and where they will find abundant shelter and prey.
Relax. The sky is not falling.

I doubt it. They usually will stay where the food source is. And where there's people, there's food sources. They are being seen in big cities now. But, ignore them if you wish. I do.....at least until they threaten me or mine.

[kittygilchrist]

K

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Oh, MDLNB! In my life I live exposed to the possibility and the potential of property/personal incursions from, deer, bear, moose, gators, possum, squirrels, groundhog, fox, wild turkey, hawks - so the last thing I am is NOT aware of wildlife and do not ignore same. In fact, because of my awareness I take every possible means to avoid it...and that is perhaps why I have not incurred their bite and rabies shots. So you see, I don't 'gaff off' any potential for danger from a nuisance. Nor have I ever suggested that anyone do that - but - have promoted awareness without fear mongering.

Regarding the posture of awareness to wildlife claimed above:

This by the way is from me alone. i am not citing or quoting resources.

One who has the awareness of a rural Floridian to local wildlife would never say, as did the claimant, dismissing concerns about coyotes, on 9/3 in the thread "coyotes" :
"Grunewald, who moved to The Villages eight years ago from Oconomowoc, Wis., also has seen baby pigs out on the golf course."

One who knows whereof he speaks regarding "pigs" would instead say urgently, "Those are not domestic pigs! They are wild hogs. The parents are huge and extremely dangerous when provoked or when the offspring are threatened! Please do not go outside or take pets out until you have help getting trappers!"

Edited..in future I will try to pm people who malign my motives using pejorative labels and spare readers the grunge.


__________________

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Sandtrap328

We all know there are coyotes around but there is no need for general alarm and panic by anyone. ONE unfortunate dog got snatched. Out in the yard unnleashed after midnight. Use common sense and you have no worries from coyotes.

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Why stick to TV - because that is where we live and where this one unleashed pup was snatched from its lawn.
As the article states "awareness" - not fear mongering'
"acceptable hazing" - not trapping and killing.
Please spend as many posts telling people to not put their garbage out until the day of pick-up, to not put out tins of tuna hoping to lure their lost cat back home, to not put out foor for feral animals and similar common sense things to do and not do. I fear your posts are even upsetting people who do not walk pets but just walk for personal exercise and pleasure! After all - the coyote you saw the other day ran AWAY FROM you and NOT TOWARD.

Originally Posted by njbchbum

.... So you see, I don't 'gaff off' any potential for danger from a nuisance. Nor have I ever suggested that anyone do that - but - have promoted awareness without fear mongering.

Originally Posted by zonerboy

.....one small dog and possibly a couple of cats on lanais. The cats could just have easily been snatched by a larger sized stray dog, in my opinion. So I believe eventually they will move on to surrounding area which are less inhabited and where they will find abundant shelter and prey. Relax. The sky is not falling.

Good advice.

[CFrance]

This is starting to remind me of the Ebola thread.

We must live with alligators, wild boar, poisonous snakes, bears, poisonous frogs, stinging wasps, coyotes, and deadly peanut allergies, among others. We can't kill them all. We need to take precautions to keep ourselves and our pets safe and not fly off the handle. Just my opinion.

I'm sorry I can't walk my dog at 9 pm anymore, but oh, well.

[MDLNB]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

K

Regarding the posture of awareness to wildlife claimed above:

This by the way is from me alone. i am not citing or quoting resources.

One who has the awareness of a rural Floridian to local wildlife would never say, as did the claimant, dismissing concerns about coyotes, on 9/3 in the thread "coyotes" :
"Grunewald, who moved to The Villages eight years ago from Oconomowoc, Wis., also has seen baby pigs out on the golf course."

One who knows whereof he speaks regarding "pigs" would instead say urgently, "Those are not domestic pigs! They are wild hogs. The parents are huge and extremely dangerous when provoked or when the offspring are threatened! Please do not go outside or take pets out until you have help getting trappers!"

I will address one by one, other posts in which I am called a "fear mongerer."


__________________

I wouldn't worry too much about those that claim we are fear mongering. Many folks are oblivious to surrounding circumstances until they are directly involved. These folks will purchase insurance, not because they expect something to happen, but IN CASE something happens to them. Being prepared is not fear mongering.

Fact: there are wild animals in The Villages
Fact: they have attacked small animals
Fact: the same type of wildlife have attacked humans in other areas

That's not fear mongering. Those are facts. Take it as you all wish. I do not fear the coyotes or alligators, or wild hogs. But, I do fear for those that are less able to defend themselves. I've given my two cents, and if that information or advice is deemed "fear mongering" then.....no, I don't apologize. Nope, the sky is not falling, but if no one is going to trap and remove the threat, then being prepared is not being paranoid. It's being smart.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by MDLNB

snipped
Remember when you suggest harassing a hungry animal...snipped

Can you tell me where I suggested "harassing a hungry animal?"

Thanks

[gerryann]

I appreciate the concern. I appreciate the cautions. I will take all precautions when out walking my pup, and I will not walk after dark anymore. But....please, please don't trap and remove. They have the right to be here.

[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."

[MoeVonB61]

Its a sad day since the Developers have chosen to clear all the land and build, build, build....the wildlife was here before the homes...their territory is eroding.....PRESERVE means preserve..what happened to being responsible pet owners and following the leash law??

[Sandtrap328]

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."

Excellent posting! Thanks or your concern on the wildlife.

[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."

[kittygilchrist]

That is a very nice, articulate post, Loonlovers, thank you.
I do not agree with you about all, but i appreciate your gentle manner.
It may be that the cooler heads were thinking about liability suits, I do not know, but so I was told by an insurance adjuster.
At any rate, I did not know much about urban coyote encroachment before they came here, and it is knowledge learned from research alone that makes me want to raise awareness and allow readers to extrapolate from others' experiences what specific actions are effective.

That and this kitty, who may never be safe in his favorite spot again, unless I am near him and ready to do battle. Neither of us can relax and enjoy our beautiful home as we did before.

All lives matter!
Meet Raul, age 21. He is a sitting duck. Easily visible from the path taken toward the house by a coyote a few days ago.

[njbchbum]

Once the coyote population has been reduced [as some posters want to see] to where it is no longer effective in controlling the varmint population of rodents, snakes and insects, etc - how will residents enjoy an overpopulation of those critters?

[Chi-Town]

OK, enough with the coyotes. It's obvious they're here to stay and certain precautions need to be taken.
What ever happened to the bobcat posts?