West Seattle coyotes: Two sightings

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Change of seasons tends to bring out the coyote sightings. We have two to share:

NEAR LUNA PARK: Jason sent the photo and report:”I was walking up Andover from Avalon toward the Fauntleroy pedestrian bridge [map], and I spotted what looked like a good-sized coyote across the street from the east entrance to the bridge. It saw me and froze, sat on its haunches, and watched me for 3-4 minutes. I took this photo (blurry since it was zoomed in on my phone), and shortly after that it disappeared when I looked away. It did not seem very afraid of me.”

IN SEAVIEW: Deb saw one early Friday along 47th SW between Findlay and Erskine [map]: “I was out around 1:30 in the morning when a lanky coyote with a thin tail came trotting down 47th. When the animal spotted me he wheeled and ran down the alley. I promptly went back in the house.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ONE: Best thing to do is to scare it away, experts say. Other tips on coexisting with coyotes are in this fact sheet from the state Fish and Wildlife Department. Our off-and-on archive of West Seattle coyote sightings, meantime, is here.

sc September 19, 2016 (8:13 pm)

I can’t remember what to do if we confront a coyote. Please repeat again.

WSB September 19, 2016 (8:19 pm)

It’s in the link but in short: Scare it away. Wave your arms, shout, even throw things (rock, stick, etc.). It’s in their best interests to be afraid of humans and want to keep their distance, and that also means they’re less likely to approach you if you’re out walking your dog or etc.

BlairJ September 20, 2016 (11:33 am)

There was an interesting story on PBS the other day about urban coyotes and coywolves. One of the benefits mentioned is keeping rodent populations in check. Unfortunately, they do not always distinguish between rodents and small pets.

WSB September 20, 2016 (11:43 am)

Studies of their diets, however, including a recent one that I was pointed to by a West Seattle ex-pat reader who kindly sends interesting coyote news, do show that it’s composed of a much larger percentage of rodents than, for example, cats. Experts do advise eliminating food sources to encourage coyotes to keep their distance, and that means unattended pets as well as unattended pet food …
- newnative September 20, 2016 (11:51 am)
  
  I haven’t seen any rats in the past few years, whereas, when I first moved here 7 years ago, I saw them frequently in all sorts of places.