Dear Frank,
I live near Collier and Hwy 54 in Land O’ Lakes. I work nights, so driving home at night I have seen the usual type things like raccoons, possums and deer. I have even seen a gator in the middle of Willowbend Parkway. Twice, in the last week, I have seen what I think is a coyote; once on the side of the road on Willowbend and County Line - Lutz and just this morning feeding on roadkill at 41 and Sunset. Being from West Texas I have seen my share, so know what a coyote looks like. Has anyone else reported the same? If so people need to keep the cats in. Always enjoy reading your colums.—Ben Strakos

Ben,
Actually, coyotes are now very common throughout most of Florida. They spread into the state roughly 20 years ago, and have also come on strong in pretty much all of the eastern U.S. in that time; I occasionally see them when I hunt in Ohio, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. Biologists speculate that the spread came along with the increase in whitetail deer, though I think they prey on smaller animals in general--armodillos seem the most common target here. In any case, you are right about them taking household pets--an easy catch.