lions, Tiger and bears in Windermere ... oh my! But a Coyote?!! Egad.

[SideshowBob]

We certainly have our share of gators, snakes, and too much Tiger coverage here in Windermere/LBV ... but SSB was truly shocked to encounter a full grown coyote on my way to Disney today!!!

There had been rumours/sitings/emails about a coyote in our neighborhood, missing cats, etc... but I was a bit skeptical about the whole thing, thinking maybe just mistaking a big dog, etc. (years back we did have a bobcat, which was pretty high adventure as well)

SO.... I round the corner coming out of my neighborhood on this quiet morning ... and this huge coyote comes ambling across the road right in front of me! I slam on my brakes and he GLARES at me with those large spooky eyes and just stands there for a second. He then darts through a gap between two fences and into my neighborhood. I do a three point turn and head back into the neighborhood to try to get a picture of him... but he was much smarter than SideshowBob and escaped my avid pursuit. The photo here is the best match to what he looked like.

Anyone have any experience with coyotes? Only one that came to mind was Wile E. Coyote, but don't think that will help me much.

 

[DrCavin]

We have them on some land I own. Pretty cool to hear them at night, but I think my deer population is dwindling because of them. They look similar to a German shepard from a distance. Ohio has open season on them with no limit, have never had one come close enough for me to take a shot at it. They pretty much stay away from humans & they are very Wile ;-)

 

[padams]

We have had coyotes in my neighborhood periodically for several years. We've had them in our backyard, howling under our bedroom window at night. Keep an eye on all cats and small dogs as well as small children. I always know when the coyotes have returned because if we don't hear the howls at night, we'll see the signs for lost cats. Some of my neighbors hired a professional trapper to rid us of the coyotes but I don't think the trapper ever actually trapped any of them.

 

[perdidobay]

Lots of coyotes where I live out in the country, I don't like to let my dogs go out to do their buisness without me with them.
What's really spooky is when there are a bunch in the field behind my house at 3am yipping and howling.


I know it's a bit further out than Windermere, but my DD and DSIL live in Clermont and have seen and heard coyotes behind their house - they live on the golf course at Legends.

 

[Art 1]

A few years ago I saw a coyote along I-4 just west of the Disney exits probably in Disney property. I have seen a few bobcats in the area.

 

[Feralpeg]

DD and I saw a couple of them awhile back in the field area at the corner of Windermere Road and Apopka-Vineland. We had a bobcat in our yard right after we moved to the Windermere area. Pretty cool!

 

[newholidayx2]

yup hear them all the time here in Clermont - live at a campground

 

[Poohlovr]

SSB-if you see him again, just use your size 14s on him. He won't stand a chance.

I didn't know you lived in Windermere. Why didn't I know that?????? I mean, if I know your shoe size, I should know where you live.

 

[safetymom]

We had a coyote here in our neighborhood a few weeks ago.

 

[SideshowBob]

DD and I saw a couple of them awhile back in the field area at the corner of Windermere Road and Apopka-Vineland. We had a bobcat in our yard right after we moved to the Windermere area. Pretty cool!

Could be the same one(s) roaming...! This was at Windy Ridge near Apopka-Vineland.

It was on Apopka-Vineland that SSB once saw a "hit" bobcat ... ack.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

They roam around in my area in Colorado. I see them when I'm out walking or biking the trails. They pretty much leave people alone, but will take cats and small dogs, so you can't let them run loose.

I'd be much more freaked out about the alligators!

 

[startrekkie]

what else goes wild in your neighbourhood

 

[HeWhoMustNotBeNamed]

what else goes wild in your neighbourhood

No Tribbles spotted yet, or spotted Tribbles, come to think of it...

LOVE that Star Trek, though!

 

[OK!]

Yes, I unfortunately have plenty of experience with coyotes, including one lost cat and several dozen lost chickens, which may not seem like much (the chickens) but when they're family pets and all come when they're called, trail you around the yard like puppies, etc., it's a little heartbreaking. My pet rooster, Buster, was killed by a coyote this past spring. I was devastated; I spent hours tromping through the woods, crying and brandishing my dad's shotgun. I was ready to waste anything I saw.


I would very much like for my next experience with a coyote to be putting a bullet between its eyes.



Buster:

Izzy (the tiger-striped kitty on the right):

 

[Deb in IA]

SSB, we get plenty of coyotes on our farm. We've heard them more than seen them.

There is nothing more distintive than hearing a pack of them yipping and yowling in the middle of the night.

I think they tend to go after small animals mostly, but they do pack around them to bring the prey down. Even though our Labrador is a pretty good sized dog, we never let him out off leash when we hear them. I'm afraid that the one of him will be no match for a pack of coyotes.

 

[Planogirl]

We have a lot of rabbits in the area and the coyotes come in after them particularly as we build more and more on lands they hunt on. In fact, I saw one just a few weeks ago as I drove to work. Unfortunately they will also kill cats and small dogs when they find them. They don't know any better but it's sad.