>> WE’RE GOING TO GET IT. BODY. KEEP GOING. >> OKAY. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE THERE. THE COYOTE JUST GO. >> THERE ARE A COYOTE EVERYWHERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. IN SANIBEL LEADERS ARE NOW DIGGING INTO A PLAN TO REMOVE THE WILD DOGS FROM THE ISLAND. THEY WANT TO PROTECT SEA TURTLE NEST. THE CITY SAYS THAT 41% OF SEA TURTLE DEATHS LAST YEAR WERE FROM COYOTES EATING THE EGGS BEFORE THEY HATCH. OF COURSE, NEWS REPORTER KENDALL BRENT IS LEARNING HOW LEADERS WOULD PLAN TO GET THEM OUT. >> I’M WALKING THE BEACH HERE ON SANIBEL. LIKE MANY COYOTES. DO BIOLOGISTS SAY THAT THEIR HUNT FOR FOOD LEADS THEM TO THREATEN SEA TURTLE NESTS. THAT’S WHY THEY TOOK THEIR DATA FROM THE BEACH TO CITY COUNCIL FOR A PROPOSAL FOR THE USDA TO COME AND KILL SOME OF THE COYOTES. THE LEADERS SAY THEY’RE NOT FULLY SOLD. IT’S A COMMON SIGHT ON SANIBEL. YOU’VE SEEN A SEE THEM IN MY YARD ON THE ROAD. MORE AND MORE. WE’VE SEEN COYOTES ROAMING THE BEACH. >> AFTER THE FIRST APPEARED ON THE ISLAND IN 2011 SINCE THE NUMBER OF LOGGERHEAD TURTLE EGGS AND HATCHLINGS COYOTES HAVE EATEN HAS BEEN ON THE RISE. A BIG SPIKE CAME AFTER HURRICANE IAN LAST YEAR. THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION FOUND THAT COYOTES 8 JUST OVER 22,000 EGGS AND HATCHLINGS, EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE STEPS WERE TAKEN TO PROTECT THEM. KILLING COYOTE IS IS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY. >> NOR DO I WANT TO BE STANDING, YOU KNOW, AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, MAKING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A CONSERVATION GROUP. IT IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOL BOX. WE FEEL LIKE WE’RE GETTING TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TOOL BOX IN THEIR NAME MAY NOT BE ANY TOOLS LEFT. JAMES EVANS, HIS TEAM WITH SCCF AND THE COYOTE WORKING GROUP BROUGHT AN IDEA TO CITY COUNCIL. >> TO KILL SOME OF THE WILD CANINES TARGETING THE ENDANGERED LOGGERHEAD NESTS AT THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND AND IDEA THAT BROUGHT MIXED EMOTIONS FROM NEIGHBORS WHO CAME OUT TO CITY HALL. FOR ME GOING TO THE BEACH IN THE EVENING IN THE MORNING FOR MY PRAYER IS SOME PART OF MY. MY HEART. IT’S IT’S A PART OF MY >> PART OF WHO I AM. AND SO I COULDN’T GO THERE AND DO MY PRAYER AND A PLACE WHERE LIVING BEINGS ARE BEING KILLED. THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN THERE SHOULDN’T BE ANY COYOTES ON SANIBEL ARE NOT NATURAL. >> KILLING OR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THAT THEY SHOULD ALL RELATED. >> LEADERS DID NOT VOTE TODAY TO APPROVE THAT PLAN. THEY SAY THEY WANT MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT CAN BE DONE ON AND OFF THE BEACH TO PROTECT THE TURTLES WITHOUT KILLING OFF SOME OF THE COYOTES. THEY ALSO SAY THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM OR NEIGHBORS WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE
Sanibel leaders debate targeted coyote kill to protect threatened sea turtles
Updated: 9:16 PM EST Feb 3, 2026
Coyotes on Sanibel Island are increasingly preying on threatened sea turtle nests, prompting biologists to propose the targeted killing of some of the wild canines to the city council. “I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen them in my yard. I’ve seen them on the road,” said Sanibel resident Chet Sadler. Since the first coyote appeared on the island in 2011, their presence has led to a rise in the consumption of loggerhead turtle eggs and hatchlings.The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that coyotes ate or harmed over 22,000 eggs and hatchlings last year, despite protective measures, with a significant increase following Hurricane Ian.SCCF biologists said they have used cages, screens and cayenne pepper powder throughout the last 15 years to deter the coyotes, but more needs to be done so that only 10% or less of the hatchlings make it through nesting season. “Killing coyotes is not something that, that we take lightly, nor do I want to be standing, you know, at a city council meeting and making those recommendations from a conservation group,” said James Evans, CEO of SCCF. “It is one tool in the toolbox. We feel like we’re getting to, you know, to the bottom of the toolbox, and there may not be any tools left.”Evans and his team, along with the Coyote Working Group, presented their idea to the city council, suggesting the USDA kill some coyotes targeting loggerhead nests at the north end of the island. The proposal sparked mixed emotions among residents. “For me, going to the beach in the evening or in the morning for my prayer is a part of my, you know, my heart,” said Nancy Floy, a Buddhist Sanibel resident. “It’s a deep part of who I am. I couldn’t go there and do my prayer at a place where living beings are being killed.””They need to be taken out,” said Chet Sadler. “They’re killing our endangered species, and they should all be eliminated.”City leaders did not make a final decision, stating they want to explore more options to protect the turtles without resorting to lethally removing coyotes and to hear more from the community.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
LEE COUNTY, Fla. —
Coyotes on Sanibel Island are increasingly preying on threatened sea turtle nests, prompting biologists to propose the targeted killing of some of the wild canines to the city council.
“I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen them in my yard. I’ve seen them on the road,” said Sanibel resident Chet Sadler.
Since the first coyote appeared on the island in 2011, their presence has led to a rise in the consumption of loggerhead turtle eggs and hatchlings.
The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that coyotes ate or harmed over 22,000 eggs and hatchlings last year, despite protective measures, with a significant increase following Hurricane Ian.
SCCF biologists said they have used cages, screens and cayenne pepper powder throughout the last 15 years to deter the coyotes, but more needs to be done so that only 10% or less of the hatchlings make it through nesting season.
“Killing coyotes is not something that, that we take lightly, nor do I want to be standing, you know, at a city council meeting and making those recommendations from a conservation group,” said James Evans, CEO of SCCF. “It is one tool in the toolbox. We feel like we’re getting to, you know, to the bottom of the toolbox, and there may not be any tools left.”
Evans and his team, along with the Coyote Working Group, presented their idea to the city council, suggesting the USDA kill some coyotes targeting loggerhead nests at the north end of the island. The proposal sparked mixed emotions among residents.
“For me, going to the beach in the evening or in the morning for my prayer is a part of my, you know, my heart,” said Nancy Floy, a Buddhist Sanibel resident. “It’s a deep part of who I am. I couldn’t go there and do my prayer at a place where living beings are being killed.”
“They need to be taken out,” said Chet Sadler. “They’re killing our endangered species, and they should all be eliminated.”
City leaders did not make a final decision, stating they want to explore more options to protect the turtles without resorting to lethally removing coyotes and to hear more from the community.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.