ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – A resident of the Oak Harbour community is urging neighbors to keep pets close after seeing coyotes in her backyard multiple times.
Claudette Rothschild, who has a small dog named Beau and two cats, said the coyotes appeared well-fed and described one as “the size of a German Shepherd at least.” Her Ring doorbell camera has captured multiple sightings, she said.
Rothschild said a nearby family dog was killed by a coyote. She also said coyotes killed a feral cat she had cared for after more than a year.
Rothschild said she’s seen the coyotes “only a matter of feet” away; a walk from the tree where they appeared to the back of her house took 16 steps.
Rothschild has posted warnings online and advises neighbors to keep small pets inside. When walking her dog at night, she carries something noisy or a flashlight, which she said coyotes dislike.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidance says people who encounter a coyote should make noise and wave their arms. Spraying the animal with water from a strong hose may also encourage it to leave.
The agency said it has no reports of coyote attacks or deaths in Oak Harbour. It advises residents to report coyote concerns to FWC.
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