Atlantic Beach residents blame coyotes for missing cats

Neighbors disagree over what to do about roaming coyotes

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – An alarming number of cats have disappeared from a north Atlantic Beach neighborhood, and many of the pets' owners are convinced coyotes are to blame.

But that's prompted a big disagreement over what should be done about the situation.

While coyotes are not new to the neighborhood, what is new is a real sense of panic because it's clear coyotes are getting a lot more comfortable roaming the area, residents said. 

A week ago, the Stantons' beloved cat Holly suddenly stopped showing up in the driveway the moment they pulled in.

Though it's sickening to think about, Jill Stanton said that she knows in her heart why the cat is missing.

"I know what happened. I know a coyote ripped her from limb to limb, and it's graphic, but I know that's what happened," Stanton said. 

In the last three months, Stanton said, she can name about 10 cats that have disappeared within a 100-yard radius of her home. She said she wants the city to do something about it because she thinks the coyote that ate her cat will move onto something else.

"When it runs out of cats to eat, I think this coyote is going to start eating small dogs," Stanton said.

Stanton started a Facebook conversation on an Atlantic Beach community page by posting a photo of a coyote spotted in the Oceanwalk development. 

"I guess we have to wait for something more serious to happen, unfortunately, and I hate to say it, but if you see a coyote in daylight in Oceanwalk, it only leads to the question 'who else could be prey?'" Stanton said.

But some neighbors, including Tom Ferguson, don't share Stanton's concern, though he acknowledges the coyotes are out there. 

"When they start howling, there may be only two or three of them, but it sounds like there's a dozen of them," Ferguson said. "Nature usually takes care of itself if you let it go."

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there's little that can be done because coyotes tend to repopulate if they are removed. 

Coyotes have been spotted in all 67 Florida counties, so it makes sense there would also be coyote sightings in Neptune Beach, where Jana Carter recently lost her cat. 

"We just realized after looking online and all of the posts on neighborhood groups, you know, everybody seeing the coyotes everywhere, so we figured it had to be something like that," Carter said. "No more animals outside for us."

But Stanton said it's next to impossible to get a cat inside, and coyotes shouldn't be in the neighborhoods.

According to FWC, spring is breeding season for coyotes, so homeowners could see more of them in the coming months.

Wildlife officials said residents need to learn to live with the coyotes, but homeowners can remove items -- such as trash and dog food -- from outside their properties and never feed the animals. City officials from Atlantic Beach recommend that residents keep all cats indoors and to keep dogs on short leashes. People can also use hazing techniques such as yelling, throwing rocks, using air horns or pepper spray to scare the coyotes away as they see them. Coyotes are generally not a threat to people and are usually easily scared off.

For more information about how to deal with coyotes, visit the FWC website


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