Florida

Coyotes Raid Southwest Florida Sea Turtle Nests

Conservation workers say coyotes are becoming a problem for sea turtles on Sanibel and Captiva islands in southwest Florida.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Sea Turtle Program reports that coyotes have dug up about 60 sea turtle nests this nesting season, which runs from May 1 through Oct. 31.

Coordinator Kelly Sloan said one positive factor is that the coyotes seem to be scaring away the raccoons. She told the News-Press that while raccoons generally raid an entire nest, coyotes might take only 20 eggs out of 120.

James Evans, Sanibel's natural resources director, said the coyotes first showed up in 2011. He estimated that 10-15 of the animals now live on the islands.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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