![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-full-body-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
NAPLES ZOO \/ COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n
They may look like dogs, but don\u2019t be fooled! Coyotes are a different breed entirely.\n<\/p>\n
Native to North America, the coyote has become a serious concern in South Florida, where sightings have increased in urban areas. This heightens fears about people\u2019s safety when performing everyday activities, such as taking out the trash at night or walking their dogs.\n<\/p>\n
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife\u2019s Janet Windisch explains that the more recent sightings in the city are related to the ongoing expansion. With the population steadily increasing in Cape Coral \u2014 213,301 residents reported in 2024, according to the city\u2019s website \u2014 house and building construction have followed suit.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cCoyotes have moved from their western habitat over the years. I don\u2019t know whether the number is increasing \u2014 or whether the number of people is increasing,\u201d Windisch said. \u201cI can say that I think that people are more commonly seeing coyotes, because I know that they live in the city, they live in Rotary Park, they live in the old golf course, they live in some of the mangroves. And I think that people are starting to see them more, partly because we\u2019re developing more of that land.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/A-coyote-enters-the-backyard-of-a-resident-at-Burnt-Store-Village-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A coyote enters the backyard of a resident at Burnt Store Village. -JENNIFER BELTON \/ COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n
Posts on Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor have highlighted Floridians facing the issues of removing coyote habitats. The Luminary Hotel in downtown Fort Myers had a post trending across social media on Nov. 25 when a coyote became stuck on the ledge of the Denison Parking Garage. The coyote safely found its way out of the building, but the incident sparked the discussion of coyotes entering more urban areas.\n<\/p>\n
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife has been an advocate of protecting the Florida ecosystem and learning to live side by side with coyotes, despite concerns when residents spot them in their yards.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what we would love to see is for people to get educated about coyotes and recognize that they\u2019re in every county in Florida and their wildlife,\u201d Windisch said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been here for a long time, and we just need to coexist peacefully with them. They\u2019re generally not aggressive to people, and if we take some simple steps, we can, like, reduce the potential hazard that they might present.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Ranging from 20 to 30 pounds, coyotes are a naturalized species in all 67 Florida counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). With their activity rate mostly during sunset and sunrise, these animals are territorial, and establish living and hunting grounds ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 acres.\n<\/p>\n
They tend to stay around food sources \u2014 which, Windisch emphasizes, the Southwest Florida community can help prevent. Eliminating the animals\u2019 access to trash decreases their appearances.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMake sure that your trash is closed, so that there are no potential food sources,\u201d Windisch said. \u201cRemember that coyotes are typically afraid of people, and so if you see one and it seems to be getting a little close, you can yell, you can wave your arms, you can blow a whistle to scare them away, and that generally works.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Even with taking precautions, living with coyotes still carries risks that Floridians must be aware of.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will attack small dogs, especially if the dogs are not leashed or left out alone,\u201d Windisch said. \u201cSo, we have to do things, but we need to learn to live together, I think, for two reasons. One, it\u2019s not effective to just get rid of them and No. 2, wildlife. They were here before us. They\u2019re part of the ecosystem. So, let\u2019s learn to live together and enjoy the beauty of all nature.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife have been working to keep the protected land that the coyotes roam in Cape Coral from the ongoing expansion of buildings. Some of these areas include Yellow Fever Creek Preserve and Redfish Point, according to Windisch.\n<\/p>\n
Too close for comfort<\/p>\n
Lisa Thompson, media contact for the Communications Division of Habitat and Species Conservation at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, has provided information on what the community can do when interacting with coyotes.\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Turtle-eggs-destroyed-by-the-coyotoes-on-Sanibel-768x1024.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Turtle eggs destroyed by the coyotes on Sanibel. -SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION \/ COURTESY PHOTOS<\/p>\n
\u201cThe majority of\u00a0urban\u00a0wildlife\u00a0often goes undetected by humans. Many people live alongside\u00a0wildlife\u00a0like\u00a0coyotes, raccoons and opossums without even realizing it. However, conflict can occur when\u00a0wildlife\u00a0causes property damage or gets too close for comfort,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0also important to note that\u00a0coyotes\u00a0and\u00a0other\u00a0wildlife\u00a0that associate with places where people live \u2014 as an easy place to find food \u2014 may gradually lose their natural fear of humans.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The organization receives more calls about sightings than about safety concerns, she added.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year,\u00a0typically,\u00a0around half of the inquiries the agency receives about\u00a0coyotes are simply sightings that are not associated with any specific conflict or concern. Most often, people are surprised to see a\u00a0coyote\u00a0in a suburban or urban area,\u00a0and\u00a0are unsure if they need to take any action or if they should be concerned for the safety of people or pets in the area.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Most of the time, coyotes tend to avoid human conflicts \u2014 but they are opportunists, and will snatch smaller animals when given the chance.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cCoyotes help control rodents\u00a0and\u00a0other smaller predators, but they can\u00a0also\u00a0prey upon cats\u00a0and\u00a0small dogs, as well as small livestock, when the opportunity presents itself\u00a0\u2014\u00a0another commonly cited concern,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cTo protect pets, they should not be left outside unattended, even in a fenced-in yard. Walk dogs on a short, non-retractable leash that\u2019s less than 6 feet to keep them close. Cats should\u00a0be kept inside\u00a0and\u00a0not be allowed to free-roam.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Sanibel Island leaders are also frustrated with the coyote population, especially as it has become a hazard to sea turtles. Coyotes have been known to kill the turtles and destroy their eggs.\n<\/p>\n
Proposals to target the coyote population have been a topic of ongoing debate among Sanibel organizations and officials. With the potential for the predators to continue causing harm, the community is split on how to address the ongoing issues.\n<\/p>\n
According to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, the coyote depredation rate on sea turtle nests has been steadily increasing since 2021 \u2014 and has exceeded 10% for the last four years.\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Coyote-depredation-by-nest-number-1024x574.png\")
<\/p>\n
Coyote depredation by nest number. -COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n
Wildlife under watch<\/p>\n
Charlotte County has dealt with its fair share of coyote interactions, according to Charlotte County Animal Control Division Manager Brian Jones.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThey began arriving in Florida in the 1960s and have been migrating north since establishing themselves in all 67 counties,\u201d he said. \u201cCharlotte County Animal Control reported its first coyote carcass in 1997 in Rotonda West.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/A-coyote-being-transported-by-the-Charlotte-County-Animal-Control.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\n
A coyote being transported by the Charlotte County Animal Control. -COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n
Jones explained that, as counties in Florida continue to develop, the wooded areas and habitats of coyotes decrease. As a result, they begin to become more common in human neighborhoods.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cReports have increased as development expands, and residents become more aware of wildlife in their neighborhoods,\u201d Jones said.\u00a0\u201cCoyotes\u00a0have been present in Florida for decades, but sightings are more common now due to habitat changes and human activity. In my 30 years with this department, I have seen reports of\u00a0coyotes\u00a0increase exponentially.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
While the increase can alarm residents, Jones has advice for anyone who comes face-to-face with a coyote:\n<\/p>\n
\u201cStay calm and do not run. Employ hazing techniques, like making yourself appear large, waving your arms and making loud noises to scare the coyote away. Keep pets leashed and close to you. Never feed\u00a0coyotes\u00a0or leave food outside, as this encourages them to return.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Jones noted that there are preventative methods to keep wildlife from prowling around your property.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cSecure fencing \u2014 at least 6 feet high, with a buried base \u2014 can deter\u00a0coyotes,\u201d he said. \u201cMotion-activated lights and sprinklers, as well as noise deterrents like air horns, can discourage\u00a0coyotes\u00a0from lingering.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
If a coyote becomes aggressive, Jones recommended a different tactic.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cCall Animal Control if the coyote appears sick, injured, aggressive or is actively threatening people or pets. If the coyote is simply passing through or behaving normally, it\u2019s best to leave it alone and take preventive measures to discourage its presence.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Many residents ask why relocating the wildlife doesn\u2019t resolve the situation.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother common misconception is that removing\u00a0coyotes\u00a0will eliminate the problem. When one is removed, others typically move into the area,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThe most effective approach is coexistence through prevention. Finally, some assume\u00a0coyotes\u00a0always travel in packs. In reality, they are usually solitary, except when raising young or occasionally hunting larger prey.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Coyotes for conservation<\/p>\n
While some may choose to avoid interactions with coyotes, the Naples Zoo offers an opportunity to witness them firsthand and observe their behavior in a controlled setting.\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-profile-1024x844.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
NAPLES ZOO \/ COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n
\u201cThe zoo shows how\u00a0coyotes\u00a0are intelligent and important for creating a balanced ecosystem,\u201d said Courtney Jolly, director of Marketing and Public Relations.\n<\/p>\n
Feeding these animals up close \u2014 and building a relationship with a species the public would prefer to avoid \u2014 has helped shed light on interactions that could occur outside the confines of the zoo.\n<\/p>\n
Jolly explained that coyotes do not usually attack humans under most normal circumstances.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIn reality,\u00a0coyotes\u00a0almost always avoid people.\u00a0Conflicts with humans can arise if a coyote is ill or has been habituated by people,\u201d she explained.\n<\/p>\n
Despite their passiveness toward humans, coyotes are still hunted for their fur coats \u2014 and there are no legal protections against this, according to the Naples Zoo.\n<\/p>\n
As the zoo continues to care for these animals, Jolly has enjoyed learning more and teaching about the wildlife community.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love to educate the public on what they can do to support the conservation of different species,\u201d she said, \u201cincluding ways that humans can better co-exist with wildlife.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
In The KNOW:\n<\/p>\n
Resources regarding coyotes\n<\/p>\n
Florida Fish and Wildlife\u2019s Wildlife (FWC)<\/p>\n
Alert Hotline- 1-888-404-3922.<\/p>\n
Sanibel Coyote Working Group to Share Proposal for Sea Turtle Protection<\/p>\n
Cape Coral coyote safety<\/p>\n
Living with Coyotes (FWC)<\/p>\n
Fun facts:\n<\/p>\n
Coyotes hunt alone or in small family packs (usually groups of two or three).
\nCoyotes are primarily nocturnal.
\nCoyotes are omnivores with a varied diet, such as fruits, insects and, sometimes, garbage.
\nCoyotes typically sleep in quiet, hidden spots, such as tall grass and under fallen trees.
\nCoyotes use yips, howls and barks to communicate, having a sound that can sound like multiple coyotes.
\nCoyotes are canids and come from the same family as dogs, wolves and foxes.<\/p>\n