BOCA RATON, Fla. – Residents in a west Boca Raton community are on edge after a coyote has been terrorizing their neighborhood, snatching people's pets in broad daylight.
Robert Bernhardt, president of the homeowners association at Timberwalk, told Local 10 News that it has been an ongoing problem, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
Bernhardt said several residents called, emailed and visited him after another resident had her small dog snatched from its leash by a coyote while they were out on a walk Tuesday morning.
"The coyote came from that direction, circled us once and grabbed her by the neck (while) she was on a leash," Jill Putney told Local 10 News. "It had a pretty strong hold on her and somehow the latch got loose, and the coyote took off with my dog."
A neighbor heard the screams of others who witnessed the attack and ran after the coyote, which had the dog in its mouth. Chris Lowenthal followed the coyote across a road, through thorny bushes and over a fence before the coyote dropped the dog.
"The second time when it dropped (the dog) and I was able to pick it up -- the dog -- I had a firm grip on the dog and it wouldn't give it back," Lowenthal told Local 10.
Lowenthal said the coyote followed him back to the neighbor.
"He carried the dog back to me, and in tow was the coyote," Putney said. "(It) came back, clawing on his back."
Neighbors helped scare off the coyote.
The 10-pound dog was taken to a veterinarian and will have to be placed under quarantine once the dog recovers.
Bernhardt shared emails from concerned residents who want something done to stop the coyote.
"Any plans on getting this coyote removed?" one resident wrote. "I'm petrified to go out of the house. It seems to not even care if it's light or dark out."
Another resident expressed concern for the children who live in the neighborhood.
"I am aware this isn't the first time they have been around Timberwalk, but this is the first time they have attacked," the resident wrote. "I am worried the next time may not be a pet but a small child."
Shana Graves told the South Florida SunSentinel that she and her boyfriend were walking their dog in the Boca Winds community when a coyote came from behind, snatched their 4-year-old Yorkshire terrier mix, Lola, and scurried away.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman said residents can take certain steps to help deter the coyote from returning.
"Make loud noises. Keep the food out of the coyote's accessibility," Liz Barraco said. "That's what's really going to prevent them from being here."
Bernhardt said a trapper has been summoned to try to capture the coyote.
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