WE WANT ACTION! Community Petition for Coyote Management in Winter Park, FL

In honor of our family cat, Murray, who was brutally killed by coyotes on July 4, 2025. We only found his head and a leg bone. 

 

To: Winter Park City Commission

From: Concerned Residents of Winter Park

We, the undersigned residents of Winter Park, FL, are petitioning for immediate and decisive action to address the overpopulation of coyotes in our community.

 

Escalating Threat

 • In just a 3 week period surrounding Murray’s death, more than 20 family pets (cats and small dogs) went missing suspected of coyotes or were confirmed killed by coyotes in our neighborhood and immediate surrounding area, several attacks caught on residents’ home security cameras. And that is only what was reported on Nextdoor app. The numbers were probably far greater. Families finding only pieces of their pets. These were not stray animals but beloved family pets, leaving families devastated. 

 • Residents continue to regularly capture video footage of coyotes roaming yards, sidewalks, and streets at ALL hours, underscoring their growing presence in residential areas. Pets continue to be eaten and go missing at an alarming and dramatically escalating rate. 

 • Coyotes are also preying on native wildlife, further destabilizing the ecological balance.

 • With known dens in our area and a rapidly growing population, the problem has continued to escalate for years without meaningful action from the city.

 

Why This Matters

 • Coyotes are not native to our region and with virtually no natural predators, their population has grown unchecked.

 • They should be widely considered both a nuisance species and an invasive animal in suburban and urban settings.

 • Growing frustration has led to dangerous rumors of private groups of residents considering hiring snipers or taking matters into their own hands. It’s rumored this has already happened in Baldwin Park. This creates an even greater public safety risk, as residents anger rises and unregulated attempts at control put residents, children, and pets in further danger.

 

What Other Cities Are Doing

Other cities across the U.S. have recognized the dangers of unchecked coyote populations and have adopted official management programs, including:

 • Chicago, Illinois – Partnered with the Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project to implement population tracking, trapping, relocation, and robust public education campaigns.

 • Denver, Colorado – Adopted a Coyote Management Plan including hazing programs, targeted removal in high-risk areas, and an online sighting map for residents.

 • Los Angeles, California – Runs coexistence education programs, but also uses targeted lethal control in cases of repeated pet or child attacks.

 • Dallas, Texas – Increased trapping and removal programs after high-profile pet attacks, and created a dedicated reporting hotline for residents.

 • Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona – Works with Arizona Game & Fish Department using professional trappers and public outreach to address aggressive or problematic coyotes.

These proven approaches show that effective and humane management is possible—and necessary. Our city has fallen behind in protecting residents and pets, and must act before the situation worsens further.

 

Our Requests

We urge the City Commission to:

 1. Acknowledge coyotes as an invasive nuisance species that requires direct intervention.

 2. Conduct a formal assessment of local coyote populations and known dens.

 3. Implement a citywide coyote management plan, including removal of dens in residential areas

 4. Establish clear communication channels so residents know how to report sightings, attacks, and risks.

Have Florida Fish and Wildlife conduct a survey of how many coyotes are currently present, what that number should be, and consider culling when appropriate/needed to keep numbers in check.

 

Why Immediate Action Is Critical

The safety of our families, pets, and local wildlife is at stake. Without intervention, coyote populations will continue to rise, leading to more attacks on pets and potentially posing risks to children and residents. If the city does not act, residents may feel forced to take matters into their own hands—creating a serious public safety crisis that can and should be avoided through responsible city action.

We respectfully but firmly request that the City Commission make this issue a top priority and take meaningful action to protect our community.

 

⸻

 

Signatures of Concerned Residents

 

Name Address Signature