West Seattle wildlife: Coyote on the playground in Gatewood

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

It’s midwinter break, so nobody was at Gatewood Elementary (map) when Jared spotted urban wildlife there this morning:

I’m up early with my dog; out and about in the Fauntleroy Park/Solstice Park/Gatewood Elementary areas quite often. I’ve seen my fair share of our urban Coyotes but never at the school grounds. I just had to send you a quick note. At approximately 8:30 this morning I saw a coyote scampering underneath the large trees just east of the older playground structure. He originated from the dumpster behind the school. The crows that frequent these tress were going crazy; their squawking is what drew my attention to this corner of the field. The coyote spent a couple minutes surveying under the tress and than ran off Northbound to Frontenac St. Doubtful the dog would have been in these parts with school in session, but alarming nonetheless.

Previous coyote reports are archived here (newest to oldest) – including our most recent article about authorities’ advice regarding coexistence.

John February 15, 2010 (12:29 pm)

It should not be alarming. We should enjoy the fact that wildlife is living amounst us. Just remember what Seattle looked like 200 years ago and what species made it look like it does today. I feel guilty as hell for what we’ve done.

Que February 15, 2010 (12:32 pm)

Thanks for keeping an eye out Jared! I have made sure that Gatewood administration and especially the K-1 teachers know to have an eye out. Certainly we all want to live peacefully with the wildlife, but we also don’t want to be cavalier about the safety of our children. Best that we all know to be aware that we share this space.

Lura Ercolano February 15, 2010 (12:55 pm)

Jared – Did you simply stand quietly, and observe, and be sure that you did nothing to disturb the coyote?
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That is possibly a mistake in the current live-peaceably-with-nature concept. Consider that whenever a human is quietly observing a coyote, the coyote is ALSO silently observing the human, and assessing whether the human is a threat. When every human that the coyote encounters reacts quietly and passively, the coyote concludes that humans are not a threat. Then the coyote becomes bolder and bolder, eventually leading to interactions that are dangerous.
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In some cities, wildlife officials are now encouraging residents who see a coyote to yell, even throw a rock or two, so that the coyote doesn’t get over their natural wariness of humans. That may seem cruel, but more cruel is a coyote that becomes so emboldened around humans that they have to be trapped.

Mike February 15, 2010 (1:22 pm)

Lura, sorry but you’re idea won’t work. Coyotes will continue to be weary of humans, they will attack if they feel threatened, so by yelling, approaching and throwing rocks you are potentially asking to be attacked. If they have babies in the area and you walk near them, they will attack. If you corner them, they will attack. However, you’ll find it’s extremely rare that a coyote will come close to a human.

Best way to prevent coyotes from being around your house, stop letting cats outside, leaving cat food outside, leaving small dogs outside, leaving food scraps outside and not secured.

You have a greater chance of being shot by another human being here than attacked by a coyote.

funkiet0o February 15, 2010 (2:23 pm)

Mike, you are spot on.

lina February 15, 2010 (3:28 pm)

Children in a playground have a far more likely chance of getting bitten by a neighborhood dog on the loose than a coyote. I see the fact that a coyote was spotted in the schoolyard as nothing surprising, I am sure they have cruised around that area before and just not gotten spotted. Nothing to be concerned about- I agree with Mike.

Jared February 15, 2010 (3:53 pm)

Hello all. My intentions of notifying the WSB of this particular sighting were not to be alarmist in nature. John, my apologies – poor choice of words. It was however a startling juxtaposition. This coyote may as well been taking a ride down the slide with how close the animal was to the equipment. And with how highly adaptive they are, the monkey bars wouldn’t have surprised me either. Honestly, I see this guys around our neighborhood often, primarily around the larger parks and typically before sunrise. It is important for us all to be aware of their presence. WSB has done a terrific job of advocating co-existence, legitimizing the importance of their presence, and documenting sightings for the whole neighborhood.

That being said, this particular location of a sighting prompted me to spread the word. Que, thanks for giving the staff at Gatewood a heads up. I hope they examine the dumpster area in particular and trashcans. As noted below and on the various links to advice trash/food etc. can not be left out. Typically that area is pretty tidy, but as a frequent visitor of the school yard I know I’ve picked up my fair share of garbage including food while visiting the school. The smaller trash cans seem to be most problematic and are sometimes knocked over with contents spilling about. The birds fancy these feasts too. Lastly but somewhat unrelated; I pick up alot of dog droppings from less than considerate visitors as well (shame shame)! I love this neighborhood spot and the more folks which are sensitive and respectful to their surroundings the better. Thanks WSB for keep everyone in the know.

As for my encounter; I did indeed passively observe. This coyote was thoroughly uninterested in me, he was clearly predisposed. My guess, he was in pursuit of some rodents or foraging what the birds or people may have dropped. Our game of Frisbee was the least of his concerns.

Only once have I resorted to loud noises and this was when my dog and I were too close for comfort. We were running in Lincoln park and our paths more or less intersected. I was yelling at my dog more than the coyote. I am certain I have more control over a domesticated dog than a wild one. This encounter was certainly as much of a shock to the coyote as it was to me. Keeping my dog’s curiosity at bay was my primary focus. The Coyote quickly ran away. These animals are opportunistic not viscous predators. Confidence and awareness of our surrounds is all we need. Lights, clothing, and/or collars that jingle help too. And leave the coyotes alone so they don’t get comfortable interacting with humans.

JH February 15, 2010 (5:11 pm)

Maybe it was a coyote that stole my recycle bin this morning.

Babs February 15, 2010 (7:22 pm)

Coyotes have even been spotted in DT Seattle. They do get around and are perfect examples of sleuthing behavior. I bet many of us have been under surveillance by them (unknown to us) just taking garbage out, walking, or biking around this hood. Yep opportunistic is a fitting coyote title and Mike hit the nail right on the head about behavior.

Dawn Dahlquist Eldridge February 15, 2010 (7:29 pm)

Coyote’s are very sneaky I have personally seen a pack of 5 take a horse down. One time they took my sons cat. They run in packs, one strays out looking for an unsuspecting small animal, then grabs it & runs back to the pack with prey in mouth. That is when the howling starts, (when they have something), then they take it back to their den. Howling as they run. It’s very cruel but they live in the greenbelts all around the West Seattle area.

SarahScoot February 15, 2010 (8:24 pm)

I’m glad to hear coyotes are “weary” of humans, as Mike said, and that they’re “viscous” predators, per Jared. Whatever would we do if they were alert and runny?! ;-)

SarahScoot February 15, 2010 (8:47 pm)

Dawn: what’s “very cruel?” The instinctual hunting method of the coyote (in other words, their survival instincts?) Please explain what is so “cruel,” and why you follow that with, “…but they live in the greenbelts all around … West Seattle…” These two statements are unrelated, since you don’t say what, exactly, is “very cruel.”
P.S. It sounds as though your son’s cat should have been inside.

Lura Ercolano February 15, 2010 (9:05 pm)

Jared, thanks for posting about it. I don’t think it’s alarmist for there to be extra concern about that location.
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I can easily picture a parent parking a stroller or setting down a baby carrier with infant in that area, between the “big toy” and the bushes, and then taking a few steps away to assist an older child. It may be unlikely that a coyote would be there, be bold, and be hungry, but still.
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As far as yelling at coyotes, throwing rocks, etc, I’m not making up that idea, and it’s not my own idea. It’s just what really is being recommended by urban wildlife specialists from New York to California. I was surprised the first time I came across that advice, because I have always been inclined to be calm and quiet when I’ve encountered a coyote or other wildlife, and I would have hushed anyone who acted loud in such an encounter. But they actually post it on signs in the suburbs in Colorado.

JH February 15, 2010 (9:54 pm)

Actually, they bark to protect a kill. They howl to communicate with each other. They live right near my house in WS (Schmitz Park). I’m very used to them, and hear them way more than I see them. I’m not afraid of them-I love having them around and hearing them every night! And what Lura says is true-it’s good to create fear in them by making loud noises, throwing rocks, etc…I had to do that once myself in my own backyard when I was visited by a very brave coyote when out gardening! Well, I was gardening, not the coyote…and attacks on humans are rare. Oh, and on a side note, they sometimes leave their droppings in my yard…with cat hair!

Jared February 15, 2010 (10:05 pm)

Thanks Luara. And yes noted on the advice cited not being yours personally. Clearly there is controversy on how to handle the actual confrontations. Prevention of encounters seems to be something we can all agree on.
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I’ll stick with my little bear bell on my pup and my obnoxious blinking lights when running around in the parks. This was the tactic I adopted after my first major run in at Lincoln Park. Safe to say they have avoided me since.

JH February 16, 2010 (7:53 am)

Can coyotes cart off smart-mouthed teenagers?? Just wondering.

dog February 16, 2010 (10:24 am)

did you mean Schmitz Park woods because i go bike riding down there by myself?

JH February 16, 2010 (7:46 pm)

Dog, they’re all over Schmitz Park. You won’t see them and they won’t attack you! You’re fine!!!

dog February 17, 2010 (11:57 am)

hey you never know when you might run into one

JH February 18, 2010 (9:21 pm)

They rarely attack people!!! They’re in my yard all the time. Study up on coyotes. They’re harmless unless you’re a cat or a small dog! They’re not cougars!!!!!!

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