Wily coyote eludes capture in St. Petersburg, Seminole

ST.PETERSBURG -- An injured coyote that has eluded officials for more than six weeks has been spotted again.

The wild male coyote, whose backside is raw, was last seen shortly after 1 p.m. today on Duhme Road near Boca Ciega Point Condos in St. Petersburg.

"It's going to be a tough job trying to catch this animal," said Linda Britland, field enforcement manager. "We're not in the business of capturing coyotes."

The coyote was first seen Nov. 24, and again Dec. 1, in Largo. Calls started pouring into the Pinellas County Animal Services office Sunday after the coyote was seen near Seminole Boulevard and 110th Avenue.

Animal control officers have had no luck catching the animal. The coyote has avoided the dog traps set out, and a tranquilizer dart bounced off its skin.

There has been an increase in the number of coyotes spotted in the area, Britland said.

"They're taking on the urban area," she said.

More and more people are feeding the animals, she said. And the abundance of cats, which coyotes like to feed on, is also attracting them to the area.

"They're really not aggressive toward humans ... but you never know," Britland said.

If residents see the coyote, animal control officers recommend trying to scare it off. Cats and small dogs also should be kept indoors, Britland said.

Kameel Stanley, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[justathought]

Hopefully they can not scale a 6' chain-link fence...?

[Scott]

I wish I could be so lucky that Wile E. would eat my cat...

[Jo]

I live in Oak Crest MHP and several residents say they have seen them in the park. I heard them one evening and it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

[Crilly]

Actually, I did see one haul himself over a 6' chain-link fence. He had a bit of difficulty, but he got over it in a matter of a few seconds.

[!]

Why are they trying to capture it? Isn't there something better to spend money on instead of trying to catch wild animals that are in the wild?

I have no doubt that they can get over a 6' fence - my own dogs can. One jumps it clearly, the other climbs.

[carl]

Dunedin is overrun with the damnable critters. Duniden is not,"in the wild". Fences don't mean a thing to a coyote,they can jump one like a deer. And don't think a coyote won't go after a small child or baby left alone in your yard. It's happened in Cal.,Texas and other states. Keep your pets and small children indoors, especially at dusk and night. Lock up your garbage cans,and for goodness sake don't put out poison because some other animal may get ahold of it.

[Wolf]

Let it come to my house, let my little 125lb,1 year old puppy have a new chew toy, LOL

[LutzNutz]

I got a 75 cent method for catching a coyote, namely a .30-06.

[scott]

The coyote was seen,yesterday twice on 119th in Orange lake village. Seems he cought him self duck,I say let him stay and eat all the ducks he wants.There is a great food source for him here ducks,rabbits and fruit rats. I hope we has a friend or two to help him with the job. The best thing the county can do to help with this dam duck problem is to leave the coyote alone!!!!!