This is unfolding in Magnolia but we suspect (given the comment tangent here) that many people in West Seattle are watching this — we certainly are — given the fact our peninsula is similar to theirs — large parks, greenbelts, wildlife including coyotes. No military housing here, though. Anyway, thought you might want to know there’s been a new development – no trapping OR shooting the controversial coyote for at least a week.
OK, no MAJOR military housing? Anyway, thanks for info we didn’t know.
http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/alki.htm
How easy it is just to kill them and be on our way. Its a crime to not at least try to relocate them into an area far,that is also safe for them to live as wild animals. You trap them,check for any disease that they might have, if none, tag them and talk to wildlife experts in where to relocate them. How hard is that? It would piss me off if they just trap and kill them.
I worry that constant updates on the website will make a normal thing (a coyote sighting) seem like something to worry about, bringing similar unwanted attention (and talk of “control”) to West Seattle coyotes. I understand that at least part of the intention of reporting sightings is to warn people to keep pets safe, but will the end result be something quite unintended – a grwoing hostility towards native wildlife? Seeing how people in Magnolia have reacted to the/a Coyote there I think this is very possible.
The Magnolia Coyote(s) hasn’t done anything I would consider too odd. Simply seeing a Coyote during the day is not a sign that it is stressed for food or ill. I spend a lot of time in Coyote country east of the mountains and it is not at all unusual to see them by day.
Following people with small dogs, attacking cats and other reported behaviors of the Magnolia Coyotes, while not a lot of fun for pet owners, is just something they have to deal with by keeping a close eye on their pets. I love all animals, including dogs and (especially) cats, so I’m not just being hard-hearted. I also love Coyotes and am happy to see them in the city. I only wish people could see wildlife as something we have to give a little room to and make some efforts not to clash with. If that means changing a few of our habits (letting pets run free outdoors) and living with a little discomfort when we think about what animals eat (each other) then its a small price to pay.
JJ – we wrestle with that one but ultimately I think that sharing the information may lead to less hysteria. It’s a reminder to people that if they really want to protect their pets, they should keep them inside because predators could be anywhere, as well as other threats like cars (which we mention here all the time), and if they think ‘no, not my neighborhood,’ well, guess what. I also think that discussion is important, as is the awe and reverence expressed in many of the coyote sighting notes we have received and shared. Unfortunately the “don’t discuss it and maybe everything will be OK” concept just doesn’t work in a lot of things … but all of us have a stake in how the discussion is framed … and we do our best not to frame the posts as ‘alert’ or ‘warning’ or ‘OMG’ type stuff. BTW to all, they may not be “native” but very little of what you see around you really is. I always recommend this state page re: coyotes:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm
google sez coyotes were noted at Sea-Tac when it was being surveyed in 1942.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=1004
And if I am not mistaken the entire west coast is considered their range.
Until we started paving much of the area, I imagine they did not interact with humans by choice. They also make up the core of Native American stories from Alaska to Mexico. I wonder how anyone could prove that Coyotes are not just as native to this area as they are anywhere else.
Are Bears also not native? There are quite a few in the foothills and I don’t suspect any carnivore has any concept of borders (except us). If you want to keep coyotes out of the parks, poison the squirrels.
Strong statement, Mikal. I’d be interested in hearing your point.
Jiggers: It is NOT a crime to shoot a coyote. In fact, they are one of the few animals that are legal to shoot year round (pigeons and starlings are two others that come to mind). There is no requirement to trap and relocate.
The only legal issue they may have is the one surrounding discharge of a firearm within Seattle city limits. I’m not sure how they plan to deal with that.
James: I think you are wrong, at least in what you are *not* saying in your post. My reading of the law from the WA Fish & Wildlife site referenced in an earlier comment is that you are only permitted to trap or shoot a coyote if it is killing domestic animals or is damaging crops. Even then you must be either the property owner, family, employee of the family or legal tenant of their land. If you shot a coyote outside of these circumstances, without a license, it WOULD be a crime.
Do you have any further sources that contradict this? If so, please share.
JumboJim,
You are correct. Coyotes may only be taken during the act of depredation, or with an appropriate license.
With an appropriate license, coyotes may be taken year round, with no limit.
Sorry, comment time is over.
| 16 COMMENTS