Quick break for a couple more short stories before we resume weather-related coverage. From Charley:

Today (Tuesday the 17th of January) a young coyote was spotted roaming around Riverview Park neighborhood. He visited many neighbors’ backyards and seemed harmless (maybe just a little hungry). He was later spotted going into a wooded area, which later he left to roam around more.

The WSB archive of West Seattle coyote reports – including what to do if you see one (hint: make a lot of noise – they and we need to remain wary of each other) – can be found here.

My husband just reported that there was a coyote in our yard (40th between Hanford and Hinds) [map]. The coyote walked down the street (south on 40th) and is heading that way.

We are asked on occasion why we publish these reports, and our response is usually “until we stop hearing from people who weren’t previously aware that coyotes are IN the city.” Latest example ahead:

We received this report this week from Cheryl, though it happened last month:

On December 17th we had a coyote in front of our house on 4th Ave. SW near the lower east side of Westcrest Park [map]. We have a tiny dog who was in the front yard around 9:00 pm when we heard her yelp & scream, ran to the door and saw the coyote standing over her near the cars at the edge of the street. Our dog ran like lightning to the house and when we tried to scare the coyote away, it actually took a few steps toward us. We stomped and yelled a little louder and it ran off around the side of our house (not into the woods as we expected). This coyote definitely seemed accustomed to being around people and we are SOOOO lucky that we didn’t open the door to watch a coyote carry our little dog away!! Prior to that night, and now finding this blog, we had no idea there were coyotes in the city. Needless to say, we are keeping a close eye on our dog now!

What Cheryl did is exactly what the experts advise you to do if you see one – it’s good for both humans and coyotes to have them keep their distance. (Other advice is here.) P.S. WSB’s four-plus years of coyote reports, some with photos, are archived here, newest to oldest.

Saw 2 healthy-sized coyotes about 30 minutes ago by Arch Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW [map] while walking the dog. They sauntered away to the NW after we saw each other (they were about 50 yards away).

Thought others in the neighborhood might like to know.

Coyotes made it into our West Seattle wildlife year-in-review report; if you haven’t read up recently on what to do if you see one (most important advice – try to spook them), here it is again.

Pete says he was in his office along College Street Ravine in North Admiral this morning when “to my surprise, a visitor showed up outside my window.” He says the coyote went through the yard 4 times. Meantime, Bly reported a south Morgan Junction sighting (California/Frontenac) via Twitter.

Coyote reports we’ve received over the past three-plus years are archived here.

I wanted to let people in my neighborhood know about a pair of coyotes my wife and I encountered tonight while walking our dog around Riverview Playfield. They were near the tennis courts and playground when I spotted the pair and they were watching us. We stopped and then one of them started running toward us and stopped about 30 yards away. I got between our dog and them and walked toward them with arms up and yelling – trying to scare them away – but the one in front only backed off about 20 feet, then stopped to watch us again. We altered our route and I saw the aggressive one pick up a large branch in its mouth and head downhill. They both reappeared about 30 seconds later and watched us walk away. They showed very little fear and they were fairly large – maybe 50-60 lbs.

Trying to scare away is what experts recommend – it’s supposed to at least keep the coyotes guessing.

It’s 9:43 pm and I just saw two adult coyotes go down Kenyon off 11th S.W. and then down the alley. All small animals better be inside!!! (Highland Park)

Note that they come out in the daytime too – the proof is in our ever-longer archive of coyote sightings (many with photos), which you can scroll through here.

ADDED 12:13 AM: More coyote news – Anna e-mailed to say, “My neighbor and I heard a group of coyotes howling at 9:45 pm tonight, Friday, coming from Schmitz Park. We live on 63rd SW & Beach Drive. I’ve never heard such a loud and long commotion like that before, it was very eerie.”

Just saw 2 very healthy looking coyotes at Fauntleroy Place SW and 45th Ave SW just east of Lincoln Park [map]. Not too fearful of cars, those two. Saw them right at 950 pm.

We usually end coyote-sighting reports with this infolink that includes advice on what to do if you see one. And we point you to our coyote-sighting archive (newest-to-oldest, some with photos). Tonight, a bit of coyote trivia, too: In Louisiana, we just learned via Google, they have been designated “outlaw quadrupeds.”

A friend was just (7:30 p.m. Thursday) walking her dogs between 34th SW and 35th SW where SW 108th is a narrow path, and encountered a coyote. The coyote went nose-to-nose with one of the dogs, who was in full attack mode towards the coyote. Happily, the person was able to get herself and the dogs away before the situation escalated, but the coyote only moved back into the bushes– the friend could still see the eyes, so the coyote wasn’t scared away by the commotion! Please be very careful if you are in this area.

As always – here’s the advice on what to do (including trying your best to scare a coyote away).

The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council e-mail list has been abuzz about that coyote, photographed last Tuesday afternoon “on Genesee and 20th Ave SW (map), heading toward the headwaters of Puget Creek in the greenbelt adjacent to Pathfinder K-8,” according to Joni. We requested the photo after reading her account of the coyote trying to get into the chicken enclosure at her home, which is near the school. Joni says somebody tried to shoo the coyote away but it “didn’t even blink … and stuck around long enough” to be photographed. She has since raised the fence on the chicken enclosure, and reminded neighbors on the list, “Please don’t leave food out for animals, and keep your pets safe!” She also shared the link that we include in most coyote reports – “living with coyotes” info from the state – including what to do when you see one.

Scared me to death this morning, there was a pack of coyotes running down the hill on 47th. I think there were 3 or 4, they were moving fast so it was hard to tell. The only reason I heard them was their nails on the pavement and a shadow of what looked like a dog (Gulliver didn’t make a sound). Gulliver and I had just stepped out so he could go potty. By the time I realized what it was, I couldn’t even get the door open, we were setting on the porch. I thought they were running for a meal and it was my little man. Thank goodness they went past and were probably going home. … I walked with my zapper this morning just in case they were still out there.

Webdoxie explains that Gulliver is a Min-Pin “who usually tries to be as scary as he can when he sees other dogs. His stillness is another indication that they were coyotes.” Being “scary” is good advice for people, too, according to experts, when you see one or more coyotes – scroll down this state infopage to “Too Close for Comfort” for specific actions to take.

This one came in late Thursday night from Marty on Pigeon Point:

So, I just got home and saw my neighbor looking for one of his cats in the dark (11 pm). He said his wife saw a coyote sitting in their driveway on 19th Ave SW between Genessee and Dakota, near the green belt heading down to the Duwamish.

Again, the coyote was sitting in the driveway, seemingly unaffected by the human/vehicle presence. Pretty brave. I hope they find the cat.

Then this one came in today, from Tom in the Genesee Hill area:

Just thought I’d provide another coyote sighting. This morning at about 7:45 AM my mother saw a coyote walking down the sidewalk on the 40XX block of 52nd Ave, SW (between Dakota and Andover).

If you see one – don’t gawk – scare it away. More advice in this document from the state Fish/Wildlife Department.

A neighbor in the 32xx block of 64th Ave SW sent me this this morning:

“At the start of my run this morning at 5:30 am, I saw a coyote chasing a collared yellow tabby cat down 64th towards Beach Drive. I followed them and after some time, was finally able to scare away the coyote. The cat was scared and hid under the rocks at the beach – I couldn’t get it to go home. Just thought that our neighbors may want to know that there is a determined coyote around Alki trying to eat cats!”

And remember, whether you love them or hate them – or something inbetween – “scaring away” is exactly what you want to do if you see a coyote, even if it’s not chasing potential prey or threatening you. Our state’s Fish and Wildlife Department explains why, and offers other advice.

The cameraphone photo’s from Bill Reid, who says he spotted the coyote this afternoon just north of The Triangle:

I just shot a pic of this coyote on the corner of 37th SW & Genesee! It had someone’s pet chicken in its mouth but I almost hit it with my car and it dropped the bird! Needless to say, the bird ran away and the coyote just jogged off in the direction of the West Seattle golf course. Broad daylight and it wasn’t the least bit concerned about cars and people! Amazing!!!!

Remember – do your best to make sure they’ll be concerned about people, for the good of them and us (the advice is here).

Meantime, another wildlife sighting – photographed on the Harbor Avenue shoreline by Christoph Erhard:

We have expert advice on what to do when you encounter a seal pup – for one, stay WAY far back – they might get scared into the water, and their moms, who usually leave pups on the beach so they can go seek food, might not be able to find them. Plus, notify Seal Sitters; their online journal of seal-sitting is here. (Very busy time of year for them – and thanks to everyone who’s shared seal photos, including the ones we haven’t even gotten to publish yet – we’re assured they’ve been taken from a distance.)

From an anonymous WSB’er:

At 11:52 pm on the night of 9/9/11, we saw two adult coyotes walking north on 31st Ave SW towards SW Othello St (map). They were walking down the middle of the street. We had just pulled up and were sitting in our car. They were clearly scavenging, darting in and out of each front yard along the west side of the street. We watched them get a little closer to our car. It was clear they knew we were there, but were not at all afraid. Having a bad feeling about that, I got out of the car and tried to spook them by yelling and clapping my hands. At first they were not at all phased. I did it for another 30 seconds or so and finally they went between two houses. We waited a bit and then saw them walking west on SW Webster St. The animals appeared to have very healthy coats, unlike coyotes I have seen in rural areas, and had giant ears. It was sad to have to yell at them, but also eerie that they were not afraid of us. We were very glad to get home in the nick of time to put our cat inside who had crossed the street to our bushes 30 seconds before.

From Susie:

I was on my way to my bus stop (Wednesday) morning at 5:50 am (still dark) from my home (in the 5000 block of) 38th Ave SW (map), I crossed Fauntleroy on Dawson to go up the hill. I was on the North side of Dawson nearly to 40th SW when I heard something coming North through the alley on the south side of the street. I at first thought it was a dog until it took off running past me (about 10 feet away) turned its head quickly and looked at me and kept running down the middle of 40th. It was a coyote, and he looked at me like it was as scared of me as I was of it. It happened so fast – they run very fast – I just stood there gaping saying, “Oh my God!” A few of my neighbors have reported seeing a coyote at night or in the wee hours of the morning. I believe it may be staying in the woods behind the now closed Fairmount Park Elementary. The poor creatures are just hungry, so keep your pets inside at night and early mornings.

Instead of the “co-existing with coyotes” link we often include, here’s a really simple one – a quick checklist on what to do if you see a coyote. It’s from Colorado, but applicable here.

From Clay:

Last night we lost our cat to what we believe was a Coyote. (The cat was not hit by a car, rather it was strategically eaten at from the center with a rip in the neck.) We found our cat, beloved “Mr. Piggles,” on the sidewalk near our home on 44th near Director in the Fauntleroy area [map]. There are Coyotes in the Ravine near our home over by the Fauntleroy YMCA, so perhaps send a reminder out to folks to remind them of their presence and to keep their pets in after dark as breeding season appears to be on.

They come out in the daytime too, as you can see if you browse the WSB archive of sighting reports. We also had one in queue from Jacqueline, who saw a coyote a little over a week ago, early in the morning:

5:45 am at Kenyon and 31st. Spooked him/her as I was walking two dogs at a blind corner. Coyote ran about 50 feet away and stopped. We stopped and watched him/her for a few minutes while it watched us. Approximately 24 inches tall, very lean, approximately 30 – 36″ long.

As always, we refer you to the state Fish and Wildlife Department‘s “Living With Coyotes” infopage, including the advice about what to do if you have a close encounter – don’t just stand there and gawk, actively scare it away, by yelling, waving your arms, even throwing rocks. The warier they are of humans, the better chance they’ll keep their distance.