Florida Coyotes Facts

About Coyotes

• Coyotes belong to the same family as dogs, wolves and foxes. They are medium-sized animals that grow to be about 2 feet tall and about 20 to 30 lbs. Coyotes are bushy-tailed and are typically gray or brown. Coyotes will eat a variety of things, from meat to fruit, and have successfully adapted to varied habitats, from marshy swamp to urban sprawls. Studies are ongoing to understand the population numbers, their mating seasons, patterns of movements, preferred habitats, behavior and dietary specifics of coyotes in Florida.

Diet

• Coyotes are meat-eating animals but are fairly indiscriminate when it comes to their choice of food. Coyotes are known to eat roadkill and will hunt small animals, like rodents and even house pets. In a study of the diet of the Florida wild land coyote versus the diet of a suburban Florida coyote, the wild land coyote was noted to eat a combination of vegetation, insects and rodents while the suburban coyote ate mostly rabbits and berries. It was concluded that as the habitats of the coyotes in Florida become more urban, the coyote's diet will become less varied.

Dangers

• Coyotes are a threat to the Florida ecosystem, although long-term information as to the level of destruction is not available. One endangered species in particular is threatened by the influx of coyotes. The sea turtle population in Florida, already dwindling, has suffered recently as coyotes have been feeding on the eggs. In addition to the threat posed to endangered species like the sea turtle, coyotes can spread disease such as distemper, parvo virus, hepatitis, mange and rabies. Coyotes can also carry parasites like fleas, ticks, mites and worms.

Controlling Coyote Population in Florida

• In order to control the coyote population in Florida, the installation of fencing is an option that comes with a high price tag. Other options include the use of guard dogs, shooting and trapping, which is legal with a specialized permit from the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. It is illegal to poison coyotes in the state of Florida. Feeding coyotes is discouraged, as you do not want them to keep coming back to the same area in search of food.