Coyotes Spotted in Vacant Clearwater Mansion, Frightening Neighbors
Residents of the Glenwood neighborhood are worried about reports of coyotes spotted in broad daylight and other critters that may be inhabiting the abandoned mansion, local news stations report.
Neighbors say an abandoned Clearwater mansion has become home to a host of frightening animals, including a pack of coyotes, WTSP 10 News reports.
The Ridgewood Street property in the Glenwood neighborhood is boarded up and overgrown, and residents say rats and a 5-foot monitor lizard have moved in. Coyotes have also been spotted in the neighborhood in broad daylight, WTSP reports.
"It's a concern for me because I have a three year old and a two year old," Allie Lyon told the station. "A coyote, they can attack small children. It's a concern for us being out trick or treating on Halloween and this neighborhood has a lot of children in it."
Lyon told ABC Action News she's called city officials and law enforcement but hasn't had any luck in addressing the coyote problem. The news station's calls to Pinellas County Animal Control on Friday were not returned.
Related coverage:
- Coyote Sightings in Clearwater
- Coyote? Coydog? Wolf?
- Coyotes Dogged by Unwarranted Fear
- Coyotes Plentiful in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough
- When it Comes to Coyotes, Seeing is Believing
- State Panel to Study Coyotes From 'A to Z'
Janet
1:47 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
My husband and I saw a coyote Sunday afternoon in a vacant field on 62nd Avenue near 58th Street in Pinellas Park. We told everyone we saw walking dogs. I just want everyone with pets and small children in the area to please beware!
BKL
7:31 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
This is the most unique Old Florida home. Why make it seem like the house's fault!! Really, let's get into the historic value of this beautiful setting and dwelling and not chance losing such a place. Yes, code enforcement is an important start. I understand Coyotes eat their weight in rats every day, seems the rats came because of homes increasing in the area, garbage, dog food, cat food. No food at an abandoned house. So because of the increase of rats, coyotes followed. And now they are doing their natural job.
BKL
7:36 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
And of course you now have a 5' lizard roaming about because the stupid laws allowed the bringing in of invasive species to be pets, and now there it a problem. And the "authorities" did not see that coming? Not rocket science! And then what does a 5' lizard eat?? Well, rats of course! Get rid of the rat's food source first. Could also be fallen fruit there, so sounds like a great place to get people who need food some free fresh fruit.. Why on earth was this beautiful abandoned mansion let to become so neglected and fall thru the historic cracks?