I just know here in GA. IF you see raccoons and opossums out during the day light you have to call DNR immediately and try and watch the animal till they get out here and if they can not make it you call animal control. But if you are like one of the neighbors here in the neighborhood, just shoot them on sight.

Elaine, beautiful bird pictures. I love woodpeckers, which we have a pair here. Also like the little flickers.

Talking about animals one doesn't like to see during the day or perhaps not at all -
My daughter spotted a couple of weeks ago a mangy looking Coyote behind her house. Not a good thing, we are talking two nine year old girls usually playing outside and also two cute little Chihuahuas.
Here are my little friends in my daughter's kitchen, still expecting more food! I always share my lunch with them!

I didn't see the Coyote myself, but as I took the pups into their little enclosure to run etc. I smelled a very strong Fox like stink! I didn't think right away of the Coyote, but one of the girls pointed out the source! Well, we picked up the dogs and into the house we went.
But, I think the smell is hopefully a good thing? At least you know when the animal is nearby!
My daughter had called the animal control, when she first saw it. The grass is really cut short around the house, but next to that is a bike path with lots of underbrush where animals could live. Hopefully he skadoodles somewhere soon!!

We have coyotes around here all the time. We live a few blocks from some hills here. Sometimes we hear them at night. At our last home, also close to the hills, we had them come in our back yard. Every once in a while a cat or dog goes missing. We have a Shi Tzu and a Japanese Chin. So it's no food or water outside and they have entry into the house during the day that a coyote get get through. But they are mostly active at night, so our little guys stay in side when it gets dark.

Yikes, seeing coyotes is very scary. I'm pretty sure we have them around here too, but never see one west of I-75 generally. We do have a nature preserve just a few blocks away from us and bobcats have been seen there. Plus I have seen a fox once at night, while I was driving.

Not too worried at my house about the coyotes or foxes since the whole yard is fenced 6ft. high and my cat doesn't go outside the fence any more. But a bobcat sure could go over a fence easily. Raccoons of course are not even slowed down by a fence.

If I were your daughter, Ursula, I'd be thinking about enclosing at least part of the yard with a good fence, to make it safe for the girls and the little dogs. My animal control lady who comes to fetch raccoons when I trap them says that motion detector lights are also a good deterrent for nocturnal predators. We have them all around the house (although the raccoons aren't even phased by them, darn it).

You would say simply vigilance is sufficient then? And better watch when they need to go outside in the dark.

Elaine, we are using a former fenced-in garden patch for the Pups. But I think that is the area where the animal likes to hang out. Not sure if they can jump that fence.
If that were me I would attempt to trap it and call animal control to pick it up. I will tell my daughter about the motion detector lights.

A friend who raises cattle uses a donkey to control the coyotes. Apparently donkeys have an inbred hate of canines and her donkey will tear the heck out of any coyote that comes near her calves. I think your grand daughters might like a miniature donkey Ursula, they are cute.

Ohh, I will tell them! Not sure if my daughter would be enamored with that idea though.....

Our house had a 6' fence when the coyotes came in the yard. The lights do work, but we also keep an eye on our dogs at night. But usable back yard is relatively small so they scamper back in when they hear anything. Including a dove cooing

Coyotes have gotten very bold in Orange County. They don't fear people as they should, and don't hunt only at night. Not a problem for me, but folks that live near open areas carry sticks when walking their dogs on a leash.

Very true, Carol

We have a lot of very bold daytime coyotes in Reno. I carry pepper spray when I walk out in the parks and greenbelts.

Must be lucky here in North Orange County. Have only seen the rare lone coyote sighting early in the morning on my way to the shop and he's heading to the hills

wow...it's a jungle out there!
I just saw a Turkey with her 8 or 9 chicks walk through the yard..they wouldn't last long in your neighborhood! I did take some photos...and may post one after cocktail hour is done!

Some good ideas here!!

I got a chuckle about the donkey hating canines. I visited a lavender farm in N. San Diego county some years ago that kept a few Llamas. I'm told they are capable of running off coyotes too.

My happy hour guests leaving after a nice evening stroll through the neighborhood.

Ohh, I love that!

one of my FB friends freaked out when commenting on this photo..describing turkeys as attack monsters that would chase you down and claw you to death..leaving gouges in your car door...She lives down by Elaine and Patty....maybe that's how they are in Sarasota...up here in the civilized country, they just stroll through the neighborhood at happy hour!