We have heard them howling in the distance a few times near Bonifay.
Once in Harbor Springs, MI a coyote was tracking us as we were walking our 2 small dogs.
We changed course and headed home.

........

..........

Why is it surprising that a coyote would run up and grab a small dog as a snack? I would advise if you see a coyote like Lou did, do what he did and pick up your dog and head home.

No worries about panthers or bears in The Villages, of course.

The bigger concern than coyotes for your grandchildren are the pygmy rattlesnakes, brown recluse spiders, and fire ants. Lots more of those in The Villages than coyotes!

Black Bear Hoax
 

So the Black Bear photo that was suppose to be taken in the Village of Winfred was a hoax??

I saw a coyote in Hemingway near Havana CC walking across the front lawns at 2P, also a Bobcat going thru my trash bag right after I put it out near St Charles in Poinciana. There's also bears that come out in TV.

No. I don't think it was a hoax, I do know for a fact (it WAS in the paper) that a bear was going thru the dumpster at Allamanda Rec Ctr. at night, the Animal Control came out, said it was from Ocala Nat. Forest and that they can smell food for miles. Watch out about throughing left-overs in your trash !

Bears have been seen in TV fyi...

Tying pets outside, or leaving them unsupervised, is a really bad idea! There is lots of wildlife in TV. I saw a coyote a month ago on the Churchill Greens Golf Course around 7 AM.

A few weeks ago my husband and I were travelling back from Brownwood on Buena Vista and had just passed the Pinella's place crossing on the golf cart path and a large coyote crossed in front of our golf cart. I had to take two looks--but it certainly was a coyote- it was light outside-but almost dusk. I was a bit afraid--my husband assured me "Coyote's don't chase single women in golf carts"....lol! However- I will be keeping a close eye on my Yorkie and Maltese--I do let them out in our yard (newest Gilchrist section) off a leash-but they never go more than about 10 feet from me on my own property. I'm going to have an electrician add more lighting to the exterior of the home so I can see a bit farther around the landscape.

Quote:
Originally Posted by buggyone

No worries about panthers or bears in The Villages, of course.

The bigger concern than coyotes for your grandchildren are the pygmy rattlesnakes, brown recluse spiders, and fire ants. Lots more of those in The Villages than coyotes!
______________

Bears have been seen in TV fyi...
________________

I guess you did not notice I said that there are NO WORRIES about bears in The Villages. I suppose if you were rooting around in a Dumpster yourself and a bear was in the Dumpster also, there might be a worry. You most likely will never see a bear in The Villages so that is why I said NO WORRIES about bears in The Villages. Even if you would see one, there is no concern unless you are blocking the bear from cubs or from escape.

However it is quite likely you will ENCOUNTER a pygmy rattlesnake, brown recluse spider, or fire ants in The Villages.

"However- I will be keeping a close eye on my Yorkie and Maltese--I do let them out in our yard (newest Gilchrist section) off a leash-but they never go more than about 10 feet from me on my own property."

Definitely a bad idea. First, it is against Villages rules to have a dog off a leash (yes, exceptions being in a CYV or a yard with invisible fence), and second that a coyote (especially in a new area) can run in and snatch one before you could even know what happened.

I do the same with our 17 year old Poodle mix. He has never had a leash as the first 14 years he has been contained in a fenced back yard. I also will stand even closer now than in the past. A coyote can slip out of the dark, grab a pet and be gone in just a few seconds. But even with that, I must think of the mental status of our little guy as a leash at this late date would confuse him so much it may be as dangerous to his health as the Coyote.:shrug:

Congratulations. You two are responsible dog owners!!!!:eclipsee_gold_cup: