Coyotes Prowling Florida Neighborhoods, Raising Concerns for Pets and Children

As of September 30th, 2025, coyotes have become a common sight across the state of Florida, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirming their presence in all 67 counties, including heavily urbanized areas like Miami-Dade and Broward.

Residents in Hollywood Hills, for instance, have recently reported sightings of coyotes roaming their neighborhoods. One local, Mark McKenzie, described seeing a coyote "just bopping" across the street near his home. While coyotes are typically shy and avoid humans, their increasing presence in populated areas has raised concerns among residents, especially those with small pets and children.

Camila Pulido from the South Florida Wildlife Center warns that coyotes may attack unattended pets, as it is "very natural behavior" for them to prey on smaller animals. She advises that pets and small children should be closely supervised when outdoors in areas where coyotes have been spotted.

However, Pulido also notes that coyotes play a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping to control invasive iguana populations. "It's essentially exactly what they should be doing," she said, explaining that the coyotes' presence is "kind of letting the iguana populations know that that's a possibility."

Beyond their impact on iguanas, coyotes also help maintain the overall balance of the ecosystem by keeping other animal populations, such as raccoons and rats, in check. As Pulido stated, "If we didn't have coyotes, there could be an uptick in raccoons, there could be an uptick in rats and so on and so forth."

The FWC advises residents to be cautious and take appropriate measures to protect their pets and children when coyotes are spotted in the area. They recommend making loud noises and flaring one's arms to scare off any coyotes that get too close.