Wildlife officials
are warning about coyotes in urban areas after a Winter Park dog is killed behind its backyard recently.
Three coyotes killed a Winter Park dog Monday morning as his owners packed their toddlers into the car for school.
Walle, a 7-year-old Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier mix, was attacked by an adult and two cubs at about 9:10 a.m. behind a house on the 600 block of Lander Road, Winter Park Police said. The skirmish occurred outside the home’s fenced backyard, which is near a wooded area.
The dog likely escaped the yard by sliding through an opening under the fence made by floodwater, the pup’s owner, Chris Sullivan, told an officer.
Though an employee of the nearby The Mayflower Retirement Community tried to rescue Walle, the dog died.
Sullivan and the authorities said the coyotes escaped north through the forest.
Police said they did not find the animals responsible for the attack.
“We’re devastated [and] coping as best we can,” Sullivan said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has received two reports about coyotes in Orange County since January, said spokeswoman Gregory Workman.
Pets, including small dogs, are optimal prey for coyotes, and owners should keep small dogs leashed and leave cats inside, the commission said.
The FWC also recommended that fences surrounding pet play areas should be coyote-proof: well-maintained and at least 6 feet tall so the creatures cannot creep under or leap over.
Because coyotes may take refuge in forested places, owners should be vigilant about pet safety in these areas, according to the commission.
If you have a coyote issue, contact the commission’s regional office or notify Wildlife Alert by dialing 888-404-3922.