Coyotes on the prowl in Clewiston area

Posted 2/11/21

CLEWISTON – Many areas of Hendry County consist of rural territory, thanks to the cane fields, citrus groves, and other wooded or grassy pastures. Unfortunately, in these rural areas there are …

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Coyotes on the prowl in Clewiston area

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CLEWISTON – Many areas of Hendry County consist of rural territory, thanks to the cane fields, citrus groves, and other wooded or grassy pastures. Unfortunately, in these rural areas there are often safety hazards posed by wildlife encounters. This time of year, the safety concern, is for our pets as coyotes begin to prowl, looking for a mate.

Clewiston Animal Control (CAC) recently urged the community and pet owners to stay alert as coyote mating season is here. During this time, rural neighborhoods will encounter more coyotes than usual.

“Coyotes mate from late January to March, the average gestation period for a coyote is about 60 days; therefore pups will be born any time from mid-March to mid-May,” explained CAC, in a public service announcement. “During mating season coyotes will become more active and aggressive. They will begin expanding their territory in search for shelter and food. A coyote’s home range varies from 1,500 to 12,000 acres depending on the individual, food availability and other factors. Coyotes established in urban areas have smaller home ranges than coyotes in rural areas.”

The dangers of more active and aggressive coyotes coming into neighborhoods is not easily forgotten by Janie Stills, of Clewiston.

“Last year, around this same time, we could hear them behind the house. We didn’t think much of it, until two of our kitties went missing,” Stills said. “We put up one of those game cams, and eventually caught them on camera – coyotes. They had stalked and killed our cats.”

According to CAC, “The scientific name of the coyote, Canis latrans, literally means “barking dog.” Coyotes make a variety of vocalizations from barking to shrill yips and howls. They are active day or night, but usually most active at sunset and sunrise.” They went on to explain, “Coyotes eat a variety of plants and animals including fruits, insects, rats and mice, rabbits, birds, deer, livestock, pet food left outdoors and people’s trash. They usually hunt alone, sometimes as a pair, but rarely as a group. With such a large range of appetite it is not unusual for coyotes to attack, kill and eat smaller pets.”

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