Local Spanish names for the species include antoon, gato solo, pizote, and tejón, depending upon the region.

It is unknown precisely when introduction occurred; an early specimen in the Florida Museum of Natural History, labeled an "escaped captive", dates to 1928.

There are several later documented cases of coatis escaping captivity, and since the 1970s there have been a number of sightings, and several live and dead specimens of various ages have been found.

These reports have occurred over a wide area of southern Florida, and there is probable evidence of breeding, indicating that the population is well established.

[16][17] The white-nosed coati is an omnivore and forages mostly on the ground for small vertebrates, fruits, carrion, insects, snakes, and eggs.