by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
James Evans, CEO of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, presented to City Council information and plans for the 2026 sea turtle nesting season, coyote depredation mitigation strategies, and efforts to improve understanding of the Sanibel coyote population.
Previously, Council considered a recommendation from the Sanibel Coyote Working Group (CWG) to conduct targeted lethal removal of coyotes on Sanibel’s west end beaches for the 2026 sea turtle nesting season.
Following extensive discussion and public comment, City Council DID NOT approve the implementation of a targeted lethal removal program. Given the wide range of perspectives offered by members of Council and the public and the short time frame between the City Council meeting and the start of sea turtle nesting season, the CWG found it appropriate to no longer pursue a targeted lethal removal program for the 2026 nesting season. A workshop may be scheduled at a future date.
Since that time, the City’s Natural Resources staff and SCCF have met with a variety of experts including Humane World for Animals, the Florida Predation Management Working Group, and the University of Florida & USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services to develop a scientifically defensible understanding of the Sanibel Island coyote population, with an emphasis on population size and structure, genetic diversity and population connectivity, and spatial ecology and habitat use.
SCCF has 95 volunteers monitoring sea turtle nests, working a total of 4,000 to 5,000 hours. In addition, there are three full-time staff and four seasonal staff. In past seasons, efforts to reduce coyote depredation included self-releasing screens, self-releasing cages, ground habanero pepper powder, audio deterrents, and rebar anchors. This year, larger and heavier gauge self-releasing screens, decoy nests, and rebar anchors are being used.
Sanibel coyote depredation rates as of July 6, 2026: Least terns 72%; sea turtles 15%, east 7%, west 16%, far west 31%. With a total of 986 sea turtle nests this year, 177 were subject to coyote depredations. Shorebird nests total 177; 63 of those were destroyed by coyotes.
City Council voted unanimously to contribute $75,000 and the cost of the population study. The exact cost of that study is not known yet, but previous proposals show the potential costs. One was $169,400, another $131,293, and a third $137,884.
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