Coyote sightings on the island are rare, but we do have a pair or two that have been seen on the island. The current approach is to allow/encourage them to naturalize into a stable population as fast as possible. Be mindful of keeping your pets close on the beach at dawn, dusk, or night. Photo by Claudia DeMayo.
Coyotes on Dewees Island are managed as all wildlife: to provide necessary habitat through wise development and manage individuals on a case by case basis. We are currently collecting coyote reports: click the link below to report your sightings. In addition, residents are encouraged to "haze" coyotes so they respect humans and our pets from a safe distance. See link below.
Wildlife camera surveys, scat analysis, population surveys of nesting sea turtles & nesting shorebirds and vegetation browse surveys by herbaceous animals will all be monitored to ensure coyotes are not causing negative biological effects to the ecology of the island.
Research has shown that trapping or shooting the animals may actually increase the number of coyotes in an area due to the disrupted social structure of the family group and it is almost impossible to eliminate them since they will move in from nearby areas.
The POA is currently allowing the coyote to fulfill a niche once occupied by red wolves on Dewees Island. A stable & balanced family group of coyotes is comprised of fewer individuals than several segregated groups in an area.