Coyotes are generally not a threat to people and are usually easily scared off. Killing and removing coyotes from a community can open a space for another coyote to move in. Coyotes are highly organized in their social structure and removing one or two individuals can disrupt that hierarchy and cause more young to be born at a faster rate. Coyotes can also benefit the ecosystem by providing natural, effortless pest and rodent control. 

For individuals with coyote neighbors, Florida Fish and WildLife Conservation Commission (FWC) provides technical assistance through phone and email communications. Brochures are available digitally in English and Spanish. Residents with questions or concerns can reach FWC regional offices Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, at to speak with a wildlife assistance biologist.

Reduce your chances of a negative encounter: 

Step 1 – Secure Attractants: 

Secure all attractants, also known as human related food sources, (pet food, garbage, bird seed, fallen fruit, etc.) as this is commonly what brings coyotes to the area.  Unsure what is attracting a coyote to your property? Please refer to our Wildlife Attractant Scorecard to help determine what attractants are in your area.  

Domestic animals (pets and livestock): 

Pets are best protected when they are accompanied by their owner even in a fenced yard, kept inside, and walked on short (6 foot) leashes. Appropriate livestock enclosures should have 4 walls and a roof to prevent wildlife access. Electric fence can add extra support and security to your enclosure. Coyote rollers can prevent fenced yard access. Consistent and persistent use overnight and when you are unavailable to provide oversite for free-ranging livestock provides the best protection for your pets and livestock investment. 

Step 2 - Hazing: 

Reinforce the coyotes’ fear of humans with sudden loud noises and threatening gestures: yelling, deploying air horns, pots and pans, aluminum cans filled with nuts, stones, or coins squirt with a water hose, to deter coyotes. Installing motion activated deterrents in your yard: alarms or sprinkler styles work well. Find here a video of staff scaring a coyote off a golf course. 

Legal options: 

Removal options are available if the coyote exhibits nuisance behaviors as defined in FWC nuisance rules. Presence is not an indicator that the coyote is a nuisance, and non-lethal options as listed above are recommended before exploring lethal or trapping options. The nuisance rule defines nuisance behavior as: causes (or is about to cause) property damage, presents a threat to public safety, or causes an annoyance within, under or upon a building. 

If an individual coyote exhibit nuisance behavior, they can be: trapped and released on the same property trapped and relocated: within the county of capture and a minimum of 40 contiguous acres, and the releaser has written permission from the owner of the release site, and the transportation of the wildlife does not violate any rabies alert or area quarantine issued by a county health department or county animal services lethally removed if a firearm discharge is allowed in your community Check with your local law enforcement.  

Keep in mind coyotes are difficult to trap with multiple coyotes adding to that difficulty. Following through on securing attractants and hazing are necessary if removal efforts fail and/or new coyotes fill in the void left by the removed coyotes. 

If you are looking for more information, or information to disseminate to your community, please refer to this video of our staff presenting our Living With Coyotes presentation for Broward County. Although there are local references for Broward County residents, the information in the video can be applied for all coyotes throughout Florida.   

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

8535 Northlake Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33412

Office: (561) 625-5122

24 Hour FWC Hotline: 1-888-404-3922