A Seminole County homeowner has a warning about coyotes for his neighbors.
He wants them to know he's lost his pet and several other animals on his property thanks to coyotes.
Charles Ickes lives in Winter Park on Dike Road, just north of Howell Branch Road, near Lake Howell.
“I’ve had ducks for 20 years and I’ve never had a problem like this,” Ickes said.
Animals just seem to be disappearing from his property.
“There have been about five cats missing in the neighborhood just within the last few months,” said Ickes.
And just a few days ago, Ickes’ family lost a beloved pet.
“Very friendly cat, fell in love with anybody who ever came on our property, never left the property, never had an issue.”
Ickes believes a coyote is to blame for attacking and killing his cat Emily, and he believes coyotes also killed several of his ducks as well.
“These animals can jump pretty high and I think they are just jumping over the fence,” he described.
“I’m just concerned someone might get bit, or get rabies, they are more aggressive than a dog.”
Ickes is worried about other animals on his property.
Florida Fish and Wildlife’s website states that hunting and trapping of coyotes is allowed on private property to get rid of them.
But Ickes said in his populated neighborhood, hunting would not be safe, and steel traps require a permit.
“The only way the state would get involved, if it actually hurt somebody, I think that’s the way it goes, but you’re on your own right now.”
Ickes says his mission now, is to warn his neighbors.
“They have to be concerned about their dogs and cats being outside now, and I’m very concerned about that because I just lost one of my best pets.”