LEE COUNTY, Fla. —
A coyote stole a golf ball off the green at Hole 9 of the Sanibel Island Golf Club on Saturday afternoon, leaving players amused and employees reflecting on the mischievous behavior of the course’s wildlife.
A video captured the moment the coyote swiped the ball, almost as if it was waiting for the opportunity to play. Sean Buchanan, an employee at the course for just over a year, said he’s seen coyotes on the course before.
“It’s funny that the animals seem to mess with people sometimes. You’ll hit a great shot, and they’ll push it off the green or, I know crows do it a lot too. So, yeah, they’re mischievous,” Buchanan said.
The general manager, speaking off-camera, confirmed that this isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred.
“Yeah, we have a bunch out on the course. I have seen a ton of coyotes. I just haven’t seen them do that with a ball. But, yeah, we’ve seen six or seven laying on the green at the same time,” Buchanan said.
Another employee, Patrick Fitz, shared that the course is home to a variety of animals.
“We got bald eagles. We got, like, crows and coyotes and alligators and crocodiles,” Fitz said.
Fitz added that the coyotes seem to be the most playful of the animals on the course.
“But it’s a dog. It’s a wild dog basically. So, you know, and we all love dogs,” Fitz said.
Buchanan also expressed his fondness for the coyotes.
“I’m a dog lover. And I think they’re cute, but they haven’t bothered anyone. They definitely keep to their own,” Buchanan said.
The general manager noted that wildlife is a familiar sight at the course, with some players even describing the experience of golfing there as being like playing at a zoo.
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