Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Coyote spotted, cops urge residents to keep pets inside in areas
There has been another in a series of South Florida coyote sightings. This time it was in the small Miami-Dade city of El Portal where police put out a Twitter posting with a picture of the coyote on a property full of tropical foliage.
The posting said the coyote was seen Monday near Northwest 91st Street and First Avenue.
“Please keep your pets indoors for their safety,” police said on Twitter.
State wildlife officials say coyotes are in every county in Florida. Indeed, there have been multiple sightings across South Florida in recent months.
Just last month, a coyote was seen on the golf course of Miami Shores Country Club, located just north of El Portal.
The warning of El Portal police was echoed by Pembroke Pines police in April when a resident took pictures of a coyote in a neighborhood just west of University Drive and south of Sheridan Street. One picture showed the agile animal easily hurdling a yard fence fronting a community lake.
In at least one case this year a coyote is suspected of killing a pet.
In January in Delray Beach, Kimberly Benton said she left her dog named Trooper outside for just a moment while she went into her home to get a jacket because of the morning chill and she came outside to see her dog getting mauled by a coyote.
Coyotes move quickly, have a good sense of vision and smell and use their evasiveness to help them survive in the wild — and in suburban areas.
Along with repeating warnings to keep pets on leashes, wildlife experts say people who encounter the animals shouldn’t suddenly run away. Coyotes can sprint at more than 40 mph and are more likely to chase you if you run.
Other suggestions include high property fences, not leaving pet food outside and teaching children to slowly move away should they see a coyote.