Remember to Keep Your Pets Safe from Coyotes
Snell Isle: We all must educate ourselves on the steps to take to keep our pets safe from Coyotes. There can never be too many reminders!
The majority of coyote sightings and incidents on Snell Isle have taken place near the Vinoy Golf Course. However, there have been sightings as far as Brightwaters Boulevard and points on Eden Isle. The coyotes are brazen and many sightings have occurred during daylight hours. The coyotes have no boundaries.
Pinellas County Animal Services’ official position is that “coyotes are here to stay” and it is every resident’s responsibility to take precautions to ensure the safety of their pets. Here are the official tips issued by Pinellas County:
- Never leave pet food or trash outside where it will attract wildlife.
- Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings. This reduces cover for coyotes and their prey, such as rodents and other small animals.
- Protect children. Although rare, coyotes have been known to seriously injure children. Do not leave young children unattended, even in a backyard.
- Protect pets and livestock. These are favorite prey for coyotes. Keep pets indoors, especially at night. When not indoors, keep dogs and cats leashed at all times. There is a Pinellas County Ordinance that prohibits dogs or cats from roaming freely.
- Avoid walking dogs during dawn or dusk hours, which are coyotes’ normal feeding times. Avoid using a retractable leash. Coyotes will notice a dog walked frequently on an extended leash. The coyote will come back, grab the dog, and leave the owner holding an empty leash. When walking a pet, carry a stick, whistle or air horn.
- Use negative reinforcement. Make sure the coyotes know that they are not welcome. Make loud noises, throw rocks in their direction or spray with a garden hose.
Pinellas County Animal Services has a comprehensive website for residents to refer to for all things coyote: http://www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices/coyotes/index.html. This website also contains information on how to identify a coyote and how to report a sighting in your neighborhood. If you see a coyote, please report it.
This story originally appeared in the Northeast Journal April / May 2016 edition.
Malowany, Rebecca. “Remember to Keep Your Pets Safe from Coyotes.” Northeast Journal April/May 2016: 28. Print.