MIRAMAR, Fla. – Residents of a Miramar neighborhood are on alert due to coyotes roaming the area.
Surveillance video has captured coyotes attacking ducks outside of homes in the area.
It was a wakeup call, says Lisa Bowman, who found a pile of feathers in her Miramar backyard.
“I bought a whistle, and I carry a bat now when I walk the dogs,” she said.
Bowman said she went to check her cameras in the Silvershores community and saw the ducks being attacked.
“I had no idea,” she said. “I let my guard down at night. Now, I’m more vigilant. I make sure I have a flashlight and something in my hands to scare them off.”
The concern is for her pups as residents appear to be encountering more coyotes more often.
In recent months, Local 10 News has covered coyote attacks on pets, like Big Boy, a Chihuahua in Fort Lauderdale’s Melrose Park area, or Puffy out of Miramar, who was taken while on a morning walk.
Despite the encounters, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is insisting it’s very rare to be attacked by a coyote.
They’re found in all Florida counties, and with mating season now here - running January through March - they’re on the move more often and residents are being told to be aware.
At the end of the day, coyotes are curious, but they are also very skittish and afraid of people.
It’s very important not to leave food out in order to keep them afraid of people.