FWC addresses the coyotes in Cape Coral at public meeting

Coyotes pose threats to the public, but they are also part of natural wildlife in Southwest Florida.

Hank Appleton still remembers the day he lost one of his three cats, Jack, when a coyote tore through his lanai screen in Cape Coral.

“I don’t know if he decided to fight for everyone else or got caught,” Appleton said. “The other two made it in the house, but Jack didn’t make it.”

Many are concerned about coyotes because there are a lot of sightings in neighborhoods across Southwest Florida.

Brian Norris, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, spoke to neighbors in Cape Coral Wednesday evening about how to better safeguard their ‘fur-babies’ and themselves.

“Removing a food source,” Norris said. “Keeping their pets close and you see a coyote in the area, make it known that it’s not wanted there. Make a lot of noise. Make a lot of sound, so try to scare the coyote away.”

The FWC told the audience there are no regulations for removing coyotes and neighbors who have seen them in their backyards are not taking chances.

”Now,” Renata Haeussler said, “I know that I have to keep my cat inside.”

”I wanted to learn as much as I could,” Appleton said.