Home, home on the Golf Course: Seriously, Coyotes are roaming our Sanibel Links

Many people come to Sanibel for vacation.

Some love it so much they decide to stay.

That includes four legged as well as two legged critters.

We have had bears and other beautiful creatures not native to the our islands find their way over.

Some have had to be relocated for their own safety.

Now, among our confirmed residents on Sanibel Island, are coyotes.  No doubt, they will become permanent fixtures on the Island.

First reported in 2011, more have been sighted , particularly on our golf courses.

Coyotes expanded their range into Florida in the late 1970s. They are omnivorous, with the majority of their diet in Florida being small mammals, such as mice, rats and rabbits. However, they are opportunistic and have been known to eat everything from garbage to fruit and vegetables, dead fish and wildlife, birds, livestock, small pets and even sea turtle eggs.

They are most active near dawn and dusk and are normally extremely shy and stay clear of humans. Coyotes are not generally a threat to human safety.

Recommendations for limiting coyote interactions include:
-Store trash in a secure area until morning of pickup
-Bring pet food or any other potential food source inside
-Keep pets indoors or attended at all times
-Always keep pets, especially small dogs or cats, on a leash when walking

The Sanibel Natural Resources Department and the City's partners at the J.N. "Ding" Darling Refuge and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation have been closely monitoring the coyote population and keeping track of reports.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has been using metal screening to cover sea turtle nests in areas that have high coyote activity. This screening makes it difficult for coyotes to dig up nests and still allows turtle hatchlings to crawl out to the water.

Though it is unlikely you will see one of our special residents, count yourself lucky if you do!