JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – People who live in an Arlington neighborhood are shaken by their new neighbor: a coyote.
Surveillance images captured the coyote prowling in the Harbor Woods neighborhood last week. Residents said the coyote has even attacked pets.
The latest sighting comes after reports of coyotes in Neptune Beach and Spring Hill.
According to wildlife officials, the coyote population is going to grow regardless if people trap or don't trap the animals -- a scary thought for many pet owners in the Harbor Woods area.
Mike Clifton told News4Jax on Friday he knew something was wrong last week when his 18-year-old cat named Sonny never came home.
"His typical thing that he would do would be to come home for breakfast in the morning. And this is the first time in a long time he never came home," Clifton said.
Neighbors said they believe coyotes got Clifton's cat, especially after they saw the surveillance photos of a coyote in the area.
"Everybody was looking for it and the lady down here found it torn apart in the backyard," said neighbor Janet Fudge.
Another neighbor's car was also found in the same condition as Sonny.
"It was traumatic to see the viciousness of it. He was butchered, and part of him was taken away," Clifton said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission does not trap coyotes because they're resilient, and will increase their litter.
FWC RESOURCE: Guide to living with urban coyotes
Wildlife officials said people who spot coyotes near their homes need to keep their pets close.
"They just need to, by sundown and before sunup, have their animals inside protected either in the garage of in the house," Fudge said.
Clifton buried Sonny in his backyard. He said he's now making sure coyotes don't get anywhere near his other pets.
"We've got two more cats. They're mostly indoor cats, but they're going to stay indoor cats for a while," Clifton said.
A certified wildlife trapper told News4Jax that people can hire someone to trap coyotes and relocate the animals. But he said the most effective trap, which is called a foot hold trap, is not legal in the state of Florida.
For more information on coyotes from the FWC, go to http://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/coyotes.