ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – The City of Atlantic Beach is investigating multiple reports of coyote attacks in Atlantic Beach on Wednesday.
According to the city, there were confirmed reports of a coyote biting a person on Tuesday and a coyote attacking but not biting another person Wednesday morning, before a dog fended off the attack.
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The city said the dog was injured during the incident. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said one person was transported from the area on Tuesday. Officials said the man who was bitten was not seriously hurt.
There was also another report of a second person being bitten Wednesday morning, but that was not immediately confirmed. But the City of Atlantic Beach said it considers the reports to be credible.
All of the incidents occurred on or near Begonia Street, an area of the city that backs up to the Intracoastal, not far from Atlantic Boulevard.
“We do actually have a coyote management plan in Atlantic Beach, so we have protocols that we observe when something like this happens, and we’re asking our citizens to use good common sense, but also follow the plan,” Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford said Wednesday. “We’re not suggesting that the coyote has rabies, but the fact that it’s aggressive, we’re very concerned about that.”
The city had a similar issue in 2018 when one resident said their cat was killed by a coyote.
MORE | FWC guide to living with urban coyotes
The coyote or coyotes remain at large. The incidents have been reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
“This is a serious situation. It’s important for everyone in Atlantic Beach, especially in the Begonia Street area, to follow these guidelines carefully,” the city said in an emailed alert to residents.
Stay informed by checking the city’s website at www.coab.us/coyotes for updates.
Atlantic Beach Police Chief Victor Gualillo said coyote sightings started to increase in the area in 2013, and there was a spike in 2019. The last documented sighting was in November 2024, Gualillo said.
“We are living in many cities these days with coyotes as wildlife that are kind of in our neighborhoods now, and there’s no problems, as long as we do it safely and understand how to interact with them, that’s the best knowledge to arm yourself with,” he said.
What Residents Should Do:
- Immediately report all coyote sightings and incidents to 911. Provide as much detail as possible about the location, time, and what you observed. This is especially important given the recent attacks.
- Be extra vigilant and pay close attention to your surroundings, particularly during dawn and dusk.
- Keep pets inside.
- Secure all potential food sources.
- Don’t leave pet food or water outside.
- Make sure garbage cans are tightly sealed.
- Pick up any fallen fruit from trees in your yard.
- Never feed wildlife.
- Haze any coyotes you encounter to make them feel unwelcome.
- Make loud noises like shouting, clapping, or banging pots.
- Try to look bigger by waving your arms above your head.
- Throw small objects in the coyote’s direction.
- Use noisemakers such as whistles or air horns.
- Closely supervise children.
- Check your property for potential coyote hiding spots, such as under porches or sheds, and consider trimming low-lying vegetation.
What Residents Should NOT Do:
- Do not approach or feed coyotes. This can make them lose their fear of people and become bolder.
- Do not run from a coyote. Running might trigger its chase instinct. Instead, stand your ground and try to haze it.
- Do not leave small children or pets unattended outdoors.
- Do not assume coyotes are harmless. Even if they seem curious or playful, they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable.
- Do not try to capture or handle a coyote yourself. Leave this to trained animal control professionals.
According to FWC, coyotes are medium-sized mammals in the same family as dogs, wolves and foxes. Their fur is generally salt-and-pepper gray, with tan or brown patches. They have a thick, bushy tail, long, pointy nose and pointy ears. Adults in Florida weigh between 20 and 35 pounds on average, and males are generally larger and heavier than females.
Coyotes are found in several habitat types and are common in rural, suburban, and even some urban landscapes. According to a 2007 FWC report, the presence of coyotes has been documented in all 67 Florida counties.
FWC said encounters between people and coyotes in Florida are occurring more often. As coyotes become used to people, they may lose some fear of people, so sightings of coyotes during the day may increase.
FWC said unprovoked coyote attacks on humans are very rare.
According to FWC, coyotes may be taken as a furbearer year-round on private property with landowner permission by rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, air gun, crossbow, or bow.
Gualillo said people can use whatever measures are necessary to protect themselves, their property, and their family, but he also said to be careful.
“Remember that if you do fire a weapon and that bullet exits your property and goes across to someone else’s property, that could be a great liability to you,” he said. “So you need to make sure you’re doing it safely, and it’s really necessary that you decide to use that kind of force. Generally, these animals are going to run away as soon as they see or hear something that’s scary to them.”
