VERO BEACH — Jeffrey Ray awoke to a strange noise about 2:45 a.m. Dec. 12.

"I was asleep and I heard this high pitched barking," Ray said. "It didn't sound like a dog."

Ray looked out his bedroom window and saw something he said will be "burned into (his) brain for the rest of (his) life."

His 14-year-old cat Sisi was dead, hanging limp in the mouth of a coyote.

There were two coyotes, he said, one of which ran toward him when he raced outside for an attempted rescue. They soon scampered away with his cat.

"They must have come up and grabbed her off the porch," he said.

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Ray has lived in the 900 block of 22nd Place, near Miracle Mile, since 2010. He said he had no idea coyotes lived in the city.

The news, however, was little surprise to wildlife officials.

"They are around here. They come downtown a lot at night," said Vero Beach's animal control officer Scott Lee.

Lee said the nocturnal animals have been spotted running across the bridges, on golf courses, along U.S. 1 and near the restaurants on 14th Avenue, and have been known to occasionally wreak havoc on sea turtle nests on the beaches.

"If you see a coyote it's gonna be at night," Lee said. "You will never see one during the day."

Coyotes look like small dogs, with high pointy ears and tails like German Shepherds, Lee said. They typically weigh between 15 and 30 pounds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

They thrive in both rural and urban areas.

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Lee said they run low to the ground and have nightly ranges of up to 15 miles. They hunt small prey, but also go after easy food sources like pet feed, fallen fruits and food tossed in the garbage.

They do not pose a threat to humans, but have been known to kill pets, according to Officer Chad Weber, local FWC spokesman.

Pets like Sisi, who slept outside on the porch, are especially vulnerable.

"Coyotes naturally prey on smaller animals, so they can and do prey on cats and small dogs," Weber said in an email. "Pets should not roam freely. Cats should be kept indoors and small dogs should be walked on a short leash, especially at night, dusk or dawn."

Though coyotes are not native to Florida, they have been documented in all 67 counties, according to Weber. They are considered "naturalized," because they do not cause ecological or economic harm or threaten human health and safety, like pythons or other species deemed "invasive," he said.

Rather, the animals help control the populations of rodents, raccoons, foxes and opossums, Weber said.

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There are no hunting regulations on the species, meaning anyone can shoot one —outside the city limits, of course.

Lee said he will not set traps or snares, or leave poison for coyotes in Vero Beach. He said people can do so on private property, but would have to fund the efforts themselves.

Ray, however, was unhappy with the city's response and said he would like to see the animals eradicated.

"Why should I hire the trapper?" he said. "I don't understand why we have coyotes running our streets in Vero Beach."

Officials said removing sources of food from outside homes is the best solution, noting that feeding coyotes is illegal.

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If you do see one, haze it instead, officials recommend.

Hazing is using deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage undesirable behavior or activity.

"If it feels trapped, it'll raise its hackles up," Lee said. "The best thing to do is stand still and yell and wave your arms around. They do not like that. They will run from you."

To report coyote activity

Report coyote incidents or unusual coyote behavior to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or Wildlife Alert by calling 888-404-3922, or contacting regional offices

Biologists who can speak with the public about coyote issues are available at each of these offices.

Tips for keeping coyotes away

Do not leave out pet and livestock feed.

Outdoor pets and livestock should be kept in fenced areas. Fences should be 6-feet tall and regularly checked to ensure coyotes cannot crawl underneath.

Secure trash and compost in animal-proof containers.

Close off crawl spaces under buildings and sheds to prevent coyotes (or other wildlife) from resting or raising their young there.

Clean up fallen fruits, as well as seed near bird and wildlife feeders

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission