Talk of The Villages Florida - Coyote problem, suggestions wanted

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Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2321627)

I saw a coyote pup and its mama (or dad?) at a house that no one lives in. Someone's been putting canned food in petfood dishes in their carport. The pup crawled into a hole under the driveway, so I'm guessing that's this family's den.

At first I thought it was a fox and cub, and took a photo of mama from a distance after she ran to the side of the house, near the back. Got home and took a better look at the photo and yup - it's a coyote, for sure. Too big to be a fox. Ears too long, neck too long, tail not bushy enough. So positive it's a coyote.

Very cool to see, but not very cool to have in this residential area, especially considering that someone is intentionally feeding them, which makes them grow accustomed to humans and lose their fear of us. That spells danger for humans.

What to do? Is there even an "animal control" like there is up north? It's not a domesticated animal, it's not a bird or gator. They don't need rescuing.

But someone with authority needs to find out who's feeding them and make them stop doing that. And possibly the coyotes should be captured and euthanized or relocated.

Who though? The police? Animal control? Community standards? The local rec center? A wildlife conservation organization? The Lady Lake Town Hall? Who do you even report this stuff to around here?

Coyotes are not the problem. We are. They are wild animals, and they do what they are supposed to do. Once humans feed them, they will lose all fear of them. No common sense.

In Minnesota, coyotes *we call ‘em “brushwolves” up there) proved to be particularly bothersome at times. In rural areas they sometimes take pets, and if you’re a small farmer they can raise havoc with chickens—they’re smart enough to figure out ways of getting through (or often under) a chicken wire fence and can decimate a flock in a night. They will also take lambs and calves at times.

In urban areas they not only take small pets but raid trash cans, chase other pets, and have been known to stalk children. Additionally rabies is not unknown among the coyote population in Minnesota and the spread to domestic animals as well as the danger to people, especially small children, in always a reality.

In other words, they’re pests. Additionally they’re not protected there so then can be shot or trapped at will.

The upshot is that when Coyotes recognize humans as a danger and not a food source, it is much better for both species. It is much better to have coyotes fear man to the extent that they avoid man completely, than to make their living scrounging from man.

‘They will also take lambs and calves at times.’....

Phew! I thought you were talking about us for a second!