Two more West Seattle coyote sightings

| Arbor Heights | Coyotes | Wildlife

It bears repeating, we share these e-mails about coyote sightings NOT to fan any flames of anti-coyote hysteria, but just to remind everyone that West Seattle is full of wildlife large and small, and if you think “well, not in my neighborhood,” think again. We’re going to try to save them to share in bunches, though, rather than one by one, unless there’s something truly urgent to report. First, Charles sent this yesterday:

We live in Arbor Heights and around 2 AM were awakened by the yips and yaps that are common to coyotes. I have heard them before when I was in Arizona, but never in West Seattle. Looked out the window, and 2 or 3 were running through our yard and down to the ravine that empties out at Seola Beach.

And today, Mary sent this:

My neighbors have been sending e-mail out this week about a coyote that has been seen on Maple Way in the Lincoln Park Annex area (the Annex is just two blocks north of the park). She/he just showed up in my back yard and was a good size ‘doggie’ and is not afraid of people. It appeared she was headed for the park since she trotted south along our easement. On occasion we have heard of one, usually this time of year but only one or two sightings. This one has been in our neighborhood for over a month now and is frequently out during the day.

Once again, here is our favorite official state link about co-existing with coyotes.

Jiggers January 30, 2008 (8:01 pm)

Oh great..everyones going to report it when they see a coyote. I just saw a Racoon the other week can you post that please. They also can kill your cat if given the chance.

Mikal January 30, 2008 (10:40 pm)

Good, then we need more racoons.

Jerald January 31, 2008 (7:13 am)

I find the coyote reports interesting, having never seen one in the city. I have seen PLENTY of raccoons — my old neighbors used to feed a couple dozen of them. Their 4 cats coexisted quite nicely, by the way.

Shawn January 31, 2008 (11:20 am)

I live near Marine View Drive where there’s a large greenbelt. My dog was barking like a maniac–I went out to the deck to see, in the neighbor’s terraced back yard open to the greenbelt, a large coyote looking very calm, fur shining in the sun. This was early afternoon. I like the idea of having wildlife on the hillside, and in having a fence capable of keeping them out of the yard!

Jan January 31, 2008 (12:01 pm)

hmmm…maybe we should be posting Jiggers sightings? ;-)

WSG January 31, 2008 (12:42 pm)

Right on Jiggers! I saw a possum in my yard that aggitated my dog. I think it was plotting to take his food.

And lets not forget those aggressive crows! ;)

flowerpetal January 31, 2008 (12:50 pm)

Coyotes can jump fences easily and do so frequently. There are specific steps to take to make your fence “coyote proof” and a couple of those options include electrification. Check out this site if you are really interested in a coyote proof fence (and even “proof” might be too strong of a word here)
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm

WSG January 31, 2008 (12:53 pm)

flowerpetal – can you have an electric fence LEGALLY in the CITY LIMITS?

That sounds like an easy way to get into a law suit!

flowerpetal January 31, 2008 (2:08 pm)

SMC 15.48.020 “It is unlawful to place, or maintain, or allow to be placed, or maintained, any barbed wire or electric fence abutting upon the marginal line of any public place in a manner that may be hazardous to a pedestrian in the public place.” However, it seems that electric fences can be placed inside another fence to be out of reach of pedestrians.
The ruminant goat herds that we have read about here on WSB and other venues, have been contained within electric fences; but I don’t know if these fences are accessable to the public or not.
Electric fences are not lethal, not even those around military bases or prisons. The agriculturally used ones will give you a good jolt but not much more… well except for the memory of not touching that again! This I know from experience!

Steve Taylor February 1, 2008 (11:08 pm)

Coyotes can be interesting animals, however there is one detail about Coyotes many people do not immediately consider. Coyotes are carnivores, and some have learned to make a very good living for themselves in the city. Coyotes are effectively the top natural predator in their city environment. Only very large dogs are a natural significant threat to an adult Coyote. If you see a live Coyote in an area, you are seeing the top predator of the area, and all animals beware. Most all family pets (predominantly cats and small dogs) that spend time outside are fair game to a Coyote. Coyotes can look interesting and curious. However once your, or your neighbor’s pet is a victim of a Coyote, Coyotes may portray a different view to you. There is even a recorded case of a Coyote attacking and killing a young girl (I believe less than five years old) in California many years ago (in her suburban neighborhood, while her father watched from afar…). Something to consider. Thank you.

Steve Taylor

WSB February 1, 2008 (11:37 pm)

Found online:
“But one thing was unique about this communityâ€™s situation. The city involved was Glendale, a Los Angeles suburb tucked up against the foothills where, 23 years ago, a coyote killed a 3-year-old girl â€” the only human fatality from a coyote ever recorded. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, that tragedy was linked to the direct feeding of coyotes by residents in the area.”
Also found online:
“Over 300 people have been killed by domestic dogs in the U.S. between 1979 and the late 1990s (Humane Society of the U.S., reported in Tracking and the Art of Seeing, Paul Rezendes, second edition, 1999, p. 194). This means that your family dog or your neighbor’s dog is ten times more likely to kill you than a mountain lion and hundreds of time more likely than a coyote attacks.”

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