Coyotes

Coyotes (Canis latrans), once found only in the western U.S., now inhabit all of Florida, including urban and suburban areas like Tamarac. First recorded in the state in the 1970s, their population has steadily expanded and continues to grow.

Coyotes resemble medium-sized shepherds, typically weighing 20–30 pounds, with pointed ears, narrow muzzles, and bushy tails often carried at “half mast.” Their fur is usually grayish-brown, sometimes black, with distinctive chest patches. Their tracks are longer and narrower than those of domestic dogs.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) provides resources to help residents coexist safely with coyotes. Understanding their behavior and taking simple precautions are key to reducing conflicts.

Coyote

 Facts

🧍Coyotes are naturally wary of humans and often avoid contact.
🌿They provide ecological benefits, including rodent and pest control.
⚠️Lethal removal can disrupt their social structure and may lead to more coyotes.
🌎They’re highly adaptable, living in forests, marshes, and residential neighborhoods.
🥗Omnivores with flexible diets—plants, animals, and scavenged food help them thrive in varied environments.
🕐Usually hunting alone or in pairs, they’re most active at dawn and dusk with home ranges around 10 square miles.
👀Generally shy and avoid humans, but feeding them removes their natural fear and can increase risk.
🛠️The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers tools and guidance to help communities coexist safely with coyotes
🦠 Coyotes can carry diseases like distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, rabies, and mange—along with parasites such as mites, ticks, fleas, worms, flukes, and heartworm.
🧍 Coyotes are typically timid, but rare encounters—mainly involving pets—have led to minor injuries. Always keep children and pets close in areas where coyotes are seen.

How can I protect my pet or livestock? 

🏠Keep pets indoors or in secure outdoor enclosures from dusk until dawn.
🐕Supervise pets outdoors—even in fenced yards.
🔗Walk pets on a short (6-foot) leash in all areas.
🥣Feed pets indoors; if feeding outdoors, do so during daylight and remove food after.
🗑️Remove or secure all food sources—including pet food, garbage, bird seed, fallen fruit—and place trash or compost in wildlife-proof containers.
🌃Install motion-activated lighting around your yard and home.
🌿Clear dense brush and overgrown vegetation to eliminate hiding spots and rodent habitat.
🚫Never feed coyotes—doing so encourages dangerous behavior and removes their natural fear of people.
🏗️Consider enclosed “patios” or covered livestock enclosures for added protection.
⚡Use electric fencing or coyote rollers to reinforce existing fences.

📋 Use FWC’s Wildlife Attractant Scorecard to assess your property for potential attractants and reduce the risk of drawing in coyotes or other wildlife.


🚨 Scaring Off Coyotes: Keep Them Wild

It’s important that coyotes retain their natural fear of humans. If you spot one nearby, make sure it knows it’s not welcome.

Reinforce their fear of humans:

Staying consistent with these actions helps prevent coyotes from becoming too comfortable around people and homes.

⚖️ Legal Removal & Wildlife Regulations

In Florida, coyotes may only be removed under specific conditions that meet the official nuisance criteria:

  • 🏚️ Causing or threatening property damage
  • 🚷 Presenting a threat to public safety
  • 🏠 Creating a disturbance in or around buildings

Approved removal methods include:

  • 🔁 Trapping and releasing on the same property
  • 🌲 Trapping and relocating with landowner consent and regulatory approval
  • ⚠️ Lethal removal (only where legal—consult local authorities)

📇 Find a certified professional using the FWC’s Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Directory.

🚫 Reminder: Feeding coyotes and other wildlife (such as raccoons, foxes, bears, and cranes) is illegal under F.A.C. Rule 68A-4.001.