A reader wrote in the ask us:
I’ve been hearing from residents that some cats have been killed because of coyotes, we live in College park are there really coyotes in our neighborhood?!
It turns out her neighbors are most likely telling the truth. We’ve seen some reports recently of coyotes in the Bungalow Districts and of the coyotes killing cats and small dogs.
The photo above is of a coyote at the Greenwood Cemetery in the Lake Davis/Greenwood neighborhood.
We spoke with Greg Workman from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission who told Bungalower “coyotes being in Orlando or downtown is not unheard of.”
It turns out that while a 1990 report showed they were limited mostly to northern Florida with only occasional sightings in our area, it appears they have now spread more rapidly into the Orlando area.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission does not track/count coyotes in the state but they did receive over 100 nuisance calls last year regarding coyotes in the 12 county area that makes up our FWC district.
If you take a look at most of the community message boards for neighborhoods in our area you’ll see reports of the coyotes killing cats and sometimes even small dogs.
Coyotes can and do prey on domestic cats and small dogs. The fish and wildlife commission advises:
To protect your pets, don’t allow them to roam freely. Most coyote attacks on pets occur either at night or at dusk or dawn. During these times especially, be careful if you’re walking your pet in wooded areas or in heavily foliaged areas where coyotes could hide. Keep your dog close, on a short leash. Keep cats indoors. When cats wander freely, there’s an increased risk of them being attacked by coyotes. Coyotes are also attracted by garbage. Problems can be significantly reduced if residents remove attractants and secure trash.
Have you spotted any in your neighborhood?
Here’s another photo of the coyote at the Greenwood Cemetery. Both photos courtesy Marcia Kazmi.
Yea, I regularly used to see the coyote at Greenwood everytime I walked or jogged there; she usually hangs around the Southeast quarter of the grounds (Gore Street side) and is very timid. It’s gotten to the point that I walk slowly past her, pretend I’m not looking, and she takes notice then resumes napping, instead of immediately getting up and trotting off as they characteristically do. Of course, problems arise when we try to ‘domesticate’ these wild animals by feeding them, etc., (all definitely bad practices). In any case, the caretaker told me the coyote is harmless (to people) and bothers no one. Though I suspect something has become of her in recent weeks: I’ve not seen her in a month and suspect she has either migrated elsewhere, been trapped possibly (?), or has died, not sure. Actually, I’m kind of sorry to see her go; she was probably less a danger to cats or dogs living at Greenwood than anywhere else.
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I live on Greenwood street just down from the cemetery and yes, there is a female coyote living there. I see her almost every time I go walking through the cemetery. There is a lake bordering the area that is teeming with all kinds of critters so I’m certain that is where she gets her food. The people who live at the house right at the cemetery entrance have three outdoor cats that have been hanging out for at least four years. Also, I once asked the groundskeeper about the coyote and he said he knows where her den is but had never seen cat carcasses in it. Yes, coyotes are VERY capable of killing cats and small dogs, but so far I don;t think this one has.
A clearer image of the same coyote:
The female in Greenwood really doesn’t venture outside of the confines of the cemetery, though cats do find their way into it. There are plenty of squirrels, moles and mice to keep her fed, and the bald eagles drop portions of fish for her from time to time.
Snapped this photo recently on Par St, by Dubsdread golf course. I also got a video of it. It was just walking around…
they need to come eat some of the cats in Mead garden area. It is stupid crazy how many are over here. Coyotes you are welcome in my neighborhood.
I can say with 100% certainty that they only stopped coming into my block (forest circle, off Hampton and south) after they ate nearly all the cats, it was not a pretty time
I remember the story about this pack was they lived a long time by the executive airport then when that land got developed they started heading west, first to the airport then eventually through the neighborhoods and ended up in the parks
Angie Clark
One of the neighbors in cp saw one of the coyotes kill a cat on their security camera
nope
FAKE
We need some of those over on Portland Ave. We have a cat epidemic.
Yes, my neighbor saw one in our yard – in College Park
There have been some interesting studies about urban coyotes and feral cat populations – http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/catcoyote.htm coyotes are highly suited to urban life and operate on a different activity cycle so they’re hitting the streets usually when there aren’t as many people out to see them.
It’s been awhile but I’m almost positive I saw one dart across the road at sunrise in Longwood. I did a double take.
Saw one in greenwood cemetery a few years ago.
They are everywhere, my dad has them on Hutchinson island down in fort pierce. They kill everything, not just cats. In Georgia it is now legal to kill them, because they were eating all the natural wildlife, house cats, attacking and killing dogs. If you have them in your city, you need to have them removed. They are not natural to this side of the county and are invasive
Have I seen coyotes killing neighborhood cats? No, but speeding, cut through drivers do. (But to answer your real question, no. Just peacocks.)
Those pictures are from a few months ago.
Is that a recent picture? There used to be 3 or 4 of them in Langford park about 5 or 6 years ago they would cross the street onto my block at night and attack cats. The city tried to catch them and put up warnings but I don’t know if they ever did.
I could have sworn I saw one in the Greenwood Cemetery once, but when I turned around it was long gone.
My mom saw one around Lk Sybelia a few weeks ago.