TAMPA | If coyotes were into real estate, Tampa International Airport would probably take top dollar among the hairy, howling mammal type.

It has everything.

Rabbits. Snakes. Water to drink. Woods for shelter.

Then there's the added bonus: nearby land seasoned with scrumptious trash left by Raymond James Stadium tailgaters.

"We feel that is what introduced them to the airport," said Kenneth Johnson, assistant director of operations for TIA.

In the past 2 1/2 years, federal wildlife officials have removed eight coyotes from the runways and woods surrounding the airport, a spokesman said. Ten were trapped and euthanized in 2006.

Twelve were caught and killed in 2001.

It's an issue airport officials deal with periodically as the state's growing coyote population searches for areas hospitable to the omnivores.

"You're never going to get rid of them," Johnson said.

Not that they don't try.

Along with birds, coyotes present a safety challenge to aircraft as they taxi, take off or land.