What's another term for pets left out overnight in coyote country? Bait, snack, or collateral damage?

[UPDATE: Strongly suggest you read the comments following the Post article (link in paragraph below) that will likely appear in the print edition tomorrow, Jupiter's very special day, forever and ever on Tuesday's. To say Bill DiPaolo "got the fur flying" is an understatement. As always, Thank You for visiting, Wes.]

The Palm Beach Post's Bill DiPaolo has this news titled, "Coyotes blamed for killing two pet goats in Jupiter Farms" and at the end of the article is this: 

Here’s animal expert’s advice on how to deal with coyotes:

• Don’t leave food, garbage or unwanted vegetation outside.
• Don’t try to trap a coyote yourself. Call a professional trapper.
• Bring small animals inside at night. Fences don’t keep out coyotes. [emphasis added]

Here is an excerpt from the article: 

     "Two-year-old Buttercup and 3-month-old Candy, both female Nigerian dwarf goats, were killed between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. while they were in an outdoor area surrounded by a 4-foot-tall wooden fence. The goats — Buttercup weighed 50 pounds and Candy about half as much — were taken to a nearby veterinarian.
     The vet confirmed the bites on the neck and head were from coyotes, said Krohn, a lifelong resident of the rural, unincorporated area west of Florida’s Turnpike."

In the comment section, from someone who sounds like a reader of my blog, is this: 

     "Give credit where credit due. I credit the Coyotes for eliminating the feral cats from our community.

     Back in the day, I would see feral cats everywhere, every day. Then the Coyotes showed up and it has been months sense we last saw a feral cat.

     Hats off to the Coyotes for doing their part in keeping the balance of nature alive and well.

     As Always Have A Great Day."

 

Let's briefly digress, shall we, to a major issue here in the little City of Lake Worth: Feral and roaming cats. For background on this use this link or look in the right-hand column for "Can coyote save native birds from extinction?" Not only are the high number of cats a nuisance but they're killing birds at an alarming rate. What animal is particularly adept and fond of hunting cats? Coyotes.

 

The county government has essentially conceded that trapping, neutering, vaccination, and releasing (TNVR) cats back into the community is the plan until an idea that actually works comes along.

I'll let all of you connect the dots and here is more information: Use this link to read, "How long before coyotes begin appearing here in the City? And why that's not such a bad thing", and there's a new book by John Lane titled, "Coyote Settles the South":

To read a book review and to order the book use this link.