Everglades Coyotes: the songdog of South Florida

Coyote In A MeadowContrary to popular belief, coyotes are not limited to southwestern states. In fact, coyotes exist throughout the majority of Florida, and the Everglades is no exception. Coyotes are considered a noninvasive species since they found their way to Florida without any human intervention. And the population of coyotes in Florida has steadily increased over the past 15 years. Everglades coyotes are primarily found in marshy habitats otherwise known as marl prairies. These wild dogs share terrain with all sorts of animals from marsh rabbits to armadillos.

Songs of Everglades Coyotes

Coyotes are incredibly social and vocal mammals. Often, they communicate with one another through various barks, yips and howls. They express at least 11 known vocalizations, each meaning something different. Coyotes typically communicate for one of three reasons: to warn of danger, to say hello or to touch base from afar.

If you see a coyote in the Everglades…

Unlike their wolf relatives, coyotes are relatively small in size, ranging from 15 to 45 pounds. Due to their size, coyotes rarely target humans. Though attacks on humans are rare, they do occur. The most common cause of attack happens when humans feed coyotes. The coyotes then become desensitized to humans, associating them with food.

If you come across a coyote in the Everglades, evaluate the animal’s demeanor. Usually, the dog will flee at the sight of a human. But if the coyote remains, use various scare tactics to send it on its way. Without turning your back to it, back away slowly while making noise in an attempt to scare the animal. If the coyote pursues you, raise your voice to it while clapping your hands. When necessary, haze the coyote by throwing small rocks to scare it off. The idea is not to hurt the animal but to frighten it.

Explore the Everglades

The Everglades is full of exquisite wildlife. To make the most of your Everglades visit, take an airboat ride. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours expose you to a wealth of Everglades wilderness. To schedule your private airboat ride, call Captain Mitch’s at 239-695-3377.