Coyotes in Horseshoe Acres

There have been a number of coyote sightings in Horseshoe Acres. Please be sure to educate yourself and your family about these animals.

The following information comes from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website.

If you are experiencing coyote problems, please contact the FWC regional office in West Palm Beach at: 561-625-5122

Coyotes are found throughout Florida and have been documented in all 67 counties. This medium-sized canid is extremely adaptable and can be found in rural, suburban and even urban landscapes. They are typically shy and elusive but encounters between people and coyotes in Florida are occurring more often. Coyotes help maintain balanced ecosystems by controlling the populations of rodents and small predators, such as foxes, opossums and raccoons. They are native to North America, have been in Florida for many years, and will continue to make their homes around the state. The following are suggestions for coexisting with coyotes.

What should I do if I see a coyote?

Coyotes are not large animals and rarely pose a threat to people, especially adults. They can be curious but are also timid and generally run away if challenged. If a coyote approaches too closely, there are methods you can use to deter it and frighten it away. Hazing the animal by making loud noises and acting aggressively will typically cause a coyote to leave an area, but you may need to increase and continue hazing efforts until the coyote is effectively deterred and leaves the area for good. There are several methods of hazing that are effective with coyotes.                 

• Waving your arms in the air and yelling will usually get a coyote to retreat. You may need to move towards the coyote and increase hazing if the animal does not immediately run away. It is important to continue hazing efforts until the coyote has left the area or the animal may return.
• Noisemakers are often effective deterrents to coyotes, including air horns, banging pots and pans and homemade noisemakers. A “coyote shaker” made from placing pebbles or coins in an empty drink container can be an effective noisemaker.
• Throwing small stones or sticks towards (but not at) a coyote will usually cause the animal to leave.Spraying water from a hose and using squirt guns or bear repellent can also be effective hazing methods. Do not attempt to hurt the coyote because injured animals are more likely to defend themselves; the goal should be to scare the coyote away. Remember that wild animals will attempt to protect themselves or their young if threatened — keep your distance.
• Vary your methods of hazing so that the coyote does not become desensitized and hazing is still effective.
• If a coyote approaches a child, the animal can be startled away by an adult yelling loudly first and then moving towards the coyote. This gives the adult an opportunity to lift the child as quickly as possible and back away from the animal. Do not run from a coyote, as this may cause the animal to chase.
• Teach children to recognize coyotes. If children are approached by a coyote, have them move slowly inside and yell – teach them not to run, which could cause a coyote to chase.

How can I protect my pets from coyotes?

Coyotes can and do prey on domestic cats and small dogs. Most coyote attacks on pets occur either at night or in the early evening or morning hours (dusk and dawn). To protect your pets, do not allow them to roam freely.

• Keep cats indoors. Free-roaming cats are at a high risk of being preyed on by coyotes.
• Walk small dogs on a short leash, especially at night, dusk or dawn. Be extra careful if you are going to walk your pet in wooded areas or areas that have heavy foliage, where coyotes could hide.
• If pets are kept in a fenced yard, be sure the fence is high enough (about 6 feet) to prevent coyotes from jumping over it and check the bottom of the fence regularly to ensure there are no holes where coyotes can get underneath.
• Remove other attractants from around your home, such as pet food and unsecured garbage left outside. Problems with coyotes can be significantly reduced if residents remove attractants and secure trash.

How can I prevent problems with coyotes?

• Never feed coyotes either intentionally or unintentionally. Do not place food outside that will attract wild animals. Clean up pet food, fallen fruit and seed around bird feeders – coyotes will be drawn to and eat all of these potential food sources, since they are opportunistic feeders. Coyotes that associate places where people live as an easy place to find food will gradually lose their natural fear of humans.
• Secure garbage cans and compost in animal-proof containers.
• Be aware of unusual coyote behavior. Unusual behavior could include a coyote that has lost its fear of humans and is approaching people, chasing joggers and bikers, or attacking leashed pets. 
• Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds to prevent coyotes and other animals from resting or raising their young in areas around your home.
• Educate your neighbors and ask them to follow these same steps.

Why can’t coyotes be relocated or completely eliminated from my neighborhood?

• Removing coyotes is an inefficient and ineffective method to control populations. New coyotes move into areas where others have been removed. When there is pressure (such as trapping) placed on coyote populations, the species can actually produce more pups per litter in response and populations can quickly return to original size.
• Coyotes are found throughout the entire state of Florida as part of natural range expansion from western states and now live in every state but Hawaii.
• Coyotes fill an important role in the ecosystem by keeping rodent and small predator (fox, raccoon, opossum, etc.) populations under control.

Canal Exotic Tree and Brush Removal Project

Northern Palm Beach Improvement District (NPBID) Exotic Tree and Brush Removal has begun working on Section #5 this morning. This is the final section of Phase 1 of the tree removal and it will be completed by Friday, June 7th, 2019.

This year, 5 sections are getting some attention. Maps showing the affected areas can be found here: Canal Maps. Phase 2 of the brush removal will start next fiscal October 1st, 2019. The areas that will be focused on next will be determined by the money amounts that the NPBID receive next fiscal year, either from budget or grants. Those amounts will determine the amount of sections combined with lineal footage and the amount of exotics that NPBID can work on. IMPORTANT NOTE: They will not be disturbing any native trees or brush or infringe on privacy. They are only interested in the exotic trees, brush and encroachments from trees and brush that are on NPBID’s Right of Ways and Canal Conveyance System.

PBG Code Enforcement

You may have noticed an increased presence of Palm Beach Gardens Code Enforcement vehicles in our neighborhood. This is the result of a high number of anonymous complaints filed with the Code department against many properties in our community.

While many of the complaints are frivolous or unfounded, it’s a good reminder that Palm Beach Gardens has a number of codes in place to ensure that we enjoy a safe and attractive place to live. 

It’s a good idea to be sure you are familiar with our city’s codes. A good place to start is with the City’s Top 10 Code Violations.

If you suspect that one of our residents has a code violation, be a good neighbor and inform them personally. They’ll probably appreciate the gesture and the opportunity to address the issue before it becomes a violation.