Siesta Key coyote sightings spark Florida Fish and Wildlife meeting

It seems that the clear, pristine waters and pearly white sands of Siesta Key are irresistible to tourists, locals, and wild canines native throughout North America.

Sightings of the noble coyote, also known as the American Jackal, in Florida have risen in the past few years. Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith said at a Tuesday meeting in Venice that coyote sightings have become prevalent across Sarasota County lately, as growing development affects not only traffic.

The County Commission directed its staff in July to ask the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission what could be done about reports of coyotes on the barrier islands, specifically Siesta Key. The FWC suggested a public meeting with local residents facilitated by a wildlife assistance biologist.

The time and location of the meeting have yet to be determined.

“We might want (the FWC) to expand to other neighborhoods,” Smith said. “As I've heard recently, we have a coyote problem − I'm just gonna guess − in almost every neighborhood in Sarasota County.”

The commissioner said he favored a proactive approach to address the issue, or else residents may resort to their own methods to deal with coyotes, as they may do with nuisance alligators.

“I'm also fearful of school children, at bus stop their lunches, perhaps. These coyotes: they're hungry,” Smith said.

More:Coyote danger in Venice

Commission Chairman Mike Moran noted a sighting of his own, saying he awakened that morning to a coyote, larger than his Black Labrador, Rosie, rummaging through his garbage.

The Siesta Key Association reported in 2023 that a local resident's dog was killed by three coyotes.

Much like retirees, more have migrated to Florida in the past few decades. A 2007 FWC report found there were coyote populations in 18 Florida counties in 1983, 48 counties in 1990, and by 2007 they were ubiquitous throughout the Sunshine State.

Removing coyotes as a means to eradicate their population from a particular place is inefficient and ineffective, according to the FWC.

“Removal activities such as hunting and trapping place pressure on coyote populations, and the species responds by reproducing at a younger age and producing more pups per litter; populations can quickly return to their original size,” according to the FWC's website.

Coyotes can be useful as ecological equalizers, tempering the populations of rodents and pests. However, in terms of danger to pets, coyotes could also be considered the alligators of the land. Coyotes prey on all manner of smaller animals and do not share the Homo sapien sentimentality for dogs and cats. The FWC suggests pet owners keep their cats indoors, keep their dogs leashed, and exercise caution near heavy foliage.

Coyotes were seen to represent mischievous trickery in some Native American folklore. Living up the reputation, American Jackals have also been known to climb fencing and get into residential backyards.

Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @vanityhack