Sanibel Council Tables Action on Killing Coyotes

by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino

The Sanibel City Council voted unanimously – after more than four hours of discussion and public comment on Tuesday, Feb. 3 – to table the recommendation from the Sanibel Coyote Working Group to conduct a “targeted lethal removal program” for the purpose of reducing coyote depredation of sea turtle nests.

The Coyote Working Group consists of representatives from the City’s Natural Resources Department, the J.N. “Ding” Darling Refuge, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW).

The Coyote Working Group has been in operation since 2014 and has been closely monitoring the impact of coyotes on nesting loggerhead sea turtle nests, a federally designated threatened species.

SCCF biologists who track the coyote depredation (attacking/plundering) rate on sea turtle nests on Sanibel find that it has been increasing since 2021 and has exceeded 10 percent for the last four years. In the last two out of three years, the rate has exceeded 40 percent, according to SCCF sea turtle biologist Jack Brzoza.

Many protection measures have been tried, including screens, cages, habanero pepper, rebar, and audio deterrents. All have been inadequate.

“The only strategy left that is used on other nesting beaches and has been proven to reduce depredation rates is targeted lethal removal,” Brzoza explained. This is what the Coyote Working Group is proposing.

Director of Natural Resources Holly Milbrandt told Council, “This is a difficult decision and difficult matter for Council to consider. [Coyotes] are having a very detrimental impact on an endangered species that the island has worked many, many years to protect.”

James Evans, SCCF CEO, said, “We can’t just stand idly by while we work on mitigation to protect nests. We have tried many methods to no avail. We continue to see depredation rates much higher.”

They propose the targeted lethal removal program to begin in April-May.

Not so fast.

“Sometimes, getting to ‘yes’ is the wrong answer,” said Vice Mayor Holly Smith. “Statistics can be provided based on the answer someone is looking for. I don’t think 2003-2005 [presented in some Working Group analyses] is a fair statistical basis to make a fundamental change to what this island is about.”

“Are we taking into account the large increase in [turtle] nests? There are hundreds of thousands on the East Coast. Are we going to change what our Vision Statement is? When do you eliminate them? When they are just walking by or actually depredating,” Smith questioned.

“I was left with a lot more concerns,” Smith said. “I can’t support this. I would like to have more time to analyze what opportunities we may have regarding introducing a food source [for the coyote].”

Council member Laura DeBruce also had concerns. “I think there is a data gap,” she said. “I didn’t know until just now that the killing would begin even before the [sea turtle nesting] season. City employees should give us neutral data.”

“And there are discrepancies in the charts [presented],” DeBruce continued. “Charts have different numbers, and I wonder why. Out of respect, I think you should have explained to us the reasons. Some of the data presented here is misleading. Advocacy has taken over some accuracy. I find it to be quite concerning.”

The Coyote Working Group showed a video of a coyote depredating a nest. The video was from 2014.

“You don’t have hard evidence that this is happening today,” DeBruce continued. “You just have tracks on the beach. You don’t have an overall plan, so it seems illogical to disrupt the environment.”

Native coyotes travel in families. Their breeding season overlaps with the sea turtle nesting season. This raises the question: Will mothers be killed who are still supporting their young? Will more than the killed family member suffer from the loss?

The United States Department of Agriculture would kill coyotes using high-caliber guns and a sharpshooter, and they won’t take long shots.

“I’m not persuaded that killing a few coyotes is going to make a difference,” DeBruce added. “This doesn’t really make sense. We’re living on a sanctuary island.”

Council member John Henshaw thought the data presented was reasonable but perhaps incomplete. He added, “To eliminate part of a species just doesn’t sit right on Sanibel.”

Vice Mayor Smith said the city is in this condition because of the ecological imbalance caused by Hurricane Ian, namely the absence of the marsh rabbit, a critical food source for coyotes. Wildlife has not rebounded to pre-Ian levels, Milbrandt said. Would reintroducing the marsh rabbit keep coyotes away from sea turtle nests?

Smith said she is very protective of the rare natural environment we live in, and that the proposed plan goes against Sanibel’s Vision Statement: Sanibel is and shall remain a barrier island sanctuary; one where a diverse, multi-generational community lives in harmony with the island’s wildlife, preserving natural habitats for the inspiration of future generations.

“I have brought up repeatedly that there are other options that are not being considered,” DeBruce said. “Advocacy in this case has become such that it is hard for the Council to look at any other option. I find that to be disquieting. I would like to see alternatives.”

Sanibel does not know how many coyotes are on the island.

Public comment at the meeting was 8 against the killing program and 5 in favor.

City Council voted unanimously to table the matter. They want more time to consider options and possibly engage a data specialist. They also want to schedule a public working session, possibly with a special Council meeting on the same day, so they can vote.