Coyote wanders into Florida yard, spots cat through glass door

Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A Florida man captured video of a large coyote that wandered into his back yard and had a stare-down with his cat through the patio door.

Gene Hodges, who moved to Jacksonville with his wife about three months ago, said the large coyote that wandered into his back yard about 11 a.m. Tuesday was the first encounter he has had with one of the wild canines.

Hodges said the coyote spent several hours on his patio and he was concerned about what might happen if he went out to try to chase it away.

"We didn't know if it had rabies. Was it well? Had it attacked a kid or another animal here?" Hodges told WJXT-TV.

Hodges said a small child was playing outside near his home at the time.

"His dad was out there, but they didn't know this," Hodges said. "He was making circles in the street, learning to ride a two-wheeler, and this could have been a dangerous situation."

A video captured by Hodges shows the coyote and the couple's cat having a stare-down through the glass patio door.

A coyote was spotted the previous day at the Preserve condos, a few miles from the Hodges' home.

Jacksonville residents said earlier in September that coyote sightings seemed to increase near the end of the summer.

"Coyotes are very illusive and hard to catch," Benjamin Boykin, who has worked animal nuisance control for 12 years, told KTHV-TV. "In some areas it seems to be more because of new construction going on. I think it's overtaking their habitat."