ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in Windermere said they are worried coyotes are returning to west Orange County. Residents said coyotes are to blame for pets disappearing, including one woman's cat.
"He's never been gone this long. He might be gone for one of two days, but not this long," said resident Gail Holder.
Holder said her family's cat, Oliver, may be a coyote's victim because the other day she found a mutilated cat on the side of the road, and she's seen coyotes the size of her dogs in the neighborhood.
"We don't know how to stop it and they are killing our cats," said Holder.
The community chatter online is also buzzing with coyote sightings.
Windermere police told us residents should not shoot the coyotes, but rather follow these instructions: Yell, make loud noises, spray the animal with a hose or hit it with a stick.
Police said the problem isn't as bad as it was two years ago, but it's a problem that won't go away as more development takes over vacant land.
"I'm hearing and seeing with my own eyes and it definitely has hit close to home," said Holder.
Windermere police said they don't have any community meetings planned, but they are keeping track of the number of coyote calls that come in.
WFTV
