Concern Growing: Are Coyotes Raiding Turtle Nests?
Sanibel, Florida Coyote, Photo Credit – Dru Bloomfield
There is growing concern that coyotes may be raiding turtle nests on Sanibel & Captiva Islands.
Monitoring cameras seem to indicate that coyotes may be using their keen sense of smell to detect hatching turtle nests.
The City Of Sanibel and its partners at the J.N. “Ding” Darling Refuge and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation are continuing the coyote monitoring program begun over the summer. Cameras have been tracking & monitoring coyote on Sanibel and coyote. The objective is to determine the level of coyote activity and impact on the island.
Island residents are reporting increased sightings and activity of coyotes which were first confirmed to be present on Sanibel & Captiva Islands in 2011.
“Coyotes, once strictly found in the western United States, expanded their range into Florida in the late 1970’s. Coyotes are omnivorous with the majority of their diet in Florida being small mammals such as mice, rats and rabbits. However, they are opportunistic and have been known to eat everything from garbage to fruit and vegetables, dead fish and wildlife, birds, livestock, small pets and even sea turtle eggs. They are most active near dawn and dusk and are normally extremely shy and stay clear of humans. Coyotes are not generally a threat to human safety.”
For more information, please see the Sanibel Natural Resources Department.
