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Coyotes Are 'Terrifying' In Suburban Mix

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By JEFF PATTERSON

jpatterson@wfla.com

Published: March 21, 2009

OLDSMAR - Joanne Dickson feels fortunate that her dog Barry is alive.

Dickson thinks Barry was attacked by a coyote earlier this week. She had just gotten home about 7:30 a.m. after taking her son to school and noticed Barry was not running around her yard as usual. When she called his name, the dog came out of the garage limping badly.

"He was all bloody, his ear torn, bite marks all over him, paw prints all over his back," Dickson said.

Dickson said a neighbor saw a coyote run out of Dickson's yard and speculated that she interrupted the attack when she drove into her driveway.

Dickson lives in the East Lake Woodlands neighborhood of Oldsmar. The neighborhood has a beautiful golf course and acres of natural preserve. It's an area where wild turkey, deer and other wildlife roam.

Increasingly, Dickson and other residents there have been seeing coyotes.

"My girlfriend quit jogging at night because she saw them running past her," Dickson said. "One of the kids was out playing down the street and one darted out from the bushes."

Resident Jessica Hollick, who was walking her three small dogs Wednesday, said she has heard neighbors complain recently about missing cats.

"It's an absolutely terrifying thing because there's also little kids who live around here," Hollick said.

Pinellas County officials have put out a pamphlet warning about the danger of coyotes. The pamphlet advises residents that coyotes are here to stay. The East Lake Neighborhood Association is also warning residents about the danger of the predators.

"I would like for something to be done, but what can they do?" Dickson said. "I'm an animal lover, but it's frightening when they are coming so close to humans."

Pinellas County officials say residents should keep dogs and cats indoors when not on a leash; keep garbage in secure containers; and not leave pet food or birdseed outside overnight.

Reporter Jeff Patterson can be reached at (813) 221-5703.

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