The Canis Latrans: The Coyote

The Canis latrans, most commonly known to us as the coyote, can live along next to humans not only in rural areas but in an urban area just like Pinellas County, as well. Coyotes came to Florida in the 1970s and will continue to make Pinellas County their home in habitats that suit their living conditions, they are highly adaptable animals. There have been sightings of them in all 67 counties in Florida. This can create a major dilemma in an area that contains a high population of people, such as Pinellas County. People need to be educated, aware and apprehensive in our area even though there have not been many reported cases of coyotes harming humans, it still occurs too often. Our community’s population continues to grow yearly, as well as …show more content…
The coyote and the dog have so many comparable characteristics, such as their coats ranging in color from a gray to rusty brown, measuring in at a weight of only 24-37 pounds, the coyote generally has a bushy tail usually with a black tip. However, do not let the misconception of their similar attributes fool you, the coyote is nothing like the domesticated dog, in fact, they are completely the opposite. The coyote is omnivorous, which mean that they will eat just about anything. They do play a big part in our ecosystem, they tend to pray on critters that are somewhat of a nuisance to our local farmers, such as rabbits, raccoons, and rodents, just to name a few. However, some of their favorite foods are birds, wild fruits, and insects. They even prey on cats, smaller dogs and smaller-scaled livestock. Our community must be aware of why they are continuing to be drawn to this area so that we as a community will know how to prevent it in the future. “The problem comes in when people start leaving food outside their homes, or leave trash available, or allow their cats and dogs to roam the neighborhood. Then, we are providing easy meals to wild coyotes, inviting them into our areas and encouraging them to lose their natural fear of humans.” (Dr. Welch Agnew, …show more content…
They are not known to approach humans, especially adults. Being only about the size of a collie, they can easily be scared off if they move too close. Waving your arms in the air and shouting will usually get a coyote to retreat. If that does not work, you may need to move slightly towards the coyote, to scare them and in return, they will usually run off. Teaching children to recognize coyotes is crucially important. If children are approached by a coyote, have them move slowly inside and yell – teach them not to run away from them, which could cause a coyote to chase them. Throwing a few stones will usually cause the animal to leave. Do not attempt to hurt the coyote, injured animals are more likely to defend themselves; the goal should be to scare the coyote away. Remember that a wild animal will attempt to protect themselves or their young if threatened just remember to keep your distance. “The long-term solution requires public education and changes in residents’ behavior.”

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