West Seattle coyotes: Early-morning encounter

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Jenn says she and her dog were out before 5 am today when this happened:

I just got back from walking my dog, and coming across a coyote standing at Alaska and 46th SW, 2 blocks from the Junction. It was in the yard of the home on the SW corner of the intersection.

It crossed Alaska as we approached, and as I realized what it was, we turned around immediately and went back the way we had come. The coyote then reappeared and began following us right back down 46th. It was very brave. My dog, of course, then stops to poop….and the coyote is still coming. It was getting WAY too close for comfort. We crossed to the other side of 46th, and it didn’t follow us, but continued walking our direction. We scurried into our house quickly!

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12 Replies to "West Seattle coyotes: Early-morning encounter"

JH August 30, 2013 (7:25 am)

You’re lucky-I always feel very fortunate when I see a coyote.

ttt August 30, 2013 (7:30 am)

Right by my house! I have seen them in our neighborhood, but not on our street. I’m glad!! I hope they’re are catching rats!! I’ll let my neighbor that has a free roaming cat know, neighborhood cats are probably the only one that is at risk here….
Next time make a noise to help scare them away if you are afraid of seeing it. Truly, they should not go after a person or a dog similar to their size. It was probably scavenging for small vermin and dog/cat food that was left out. I used to live out in the “country” and you could hear packs of them cackling and yipping at night and see them at dusk. No one is afraid of them out there like city folks seem to be here. Yes, they will eat a cat, but our benefit in the city is that they will eat rats too. I’d much rather have a pack of coyotes in my neighborhood than millions of rats!! Cool that you got see one of our urban wild animals!

Bonnie August 30, 2013 (8:15 am)

My neighbor saw a coyote walking down our street last night in fauntlee hills. 39th and Henderson.

JTB August 30, 2013 (8:20 am)

In addition to the rats, I’m hoping the coyote(s) will help tamp down the racoon population in that neighborhood. There has been a nest off the alley just to the south of that intersection at one time or another. Several years ago, neighbors a block further to the south had a beautiful small dog killed by a racoon. Of course parents taking their kids to Ercolini Park on 48th Ave SW and Alaska should be alert.

Mike August 30, 2013 (12:14 pm)

Parents should always be alert. Its the ones that are not alert that I can’t stand. Like…leaving your infant on the bleacher at the pool to take your other kid to the bathroom. That’s smart parenting right there.

wsrocks! August 30, 2013 (3:26 pm)

Someone throws dog treats for those raccoons in the alley off of alaska. The neighbors haven’t been able to catch the person that is feeding the vermin, but please stop!! UNfortunately, I don’t think coyotes eat raccoons. Raccoons are too fiesty for a coyotes to deal with… kids should also not need to be afraid of coyotes. It’s a myth that they would go after a child, but stay clear of a raccoon as they wouldn’t hesitate to go after anyone that bugs them–they can be defensive if they have kits!

Beth W August 30, 2013 (4:55 pm)

A normal (non-rabid) coyote WILL NOT attack a human, even an infant. They are opportunists, and will definitely go after edible garbage, or house cats, but people don’t need to be afraid of them.

Raccoons, however, and even possums, will attack a dog (especially if feeling cornered) as well as a cat. They won’t attack a human unprovoked, but they are much more persistent than a coyote in getting into your bins, regardless of wether you make noise, shine lights, etc. It should be noted that skunks can be aggressive, as well.

General rule of thumb: keep your garbage cans and lids secure, know that having an outdoor cat increases the risk it will die before old age, and don’t approach any wild animal.

sgs August 30, 2013 (6:38 pm)

Now I know why my dog abnormally pulls me down that alley to sniff. Lots of wildlife to figure out!

G August 30, 2013 (9:10 pm)

Generally true that coyotes don’t pose a threat to people, but they are opportunistic in certain situations. I don’t know whether the coyote in this article had rabies or not. Be careful.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-cypress-coyote-attack-20130723,0,82886.story

chris August 31, 2013 (8:09 am)

Snap out of it, hippies!

You are wrong; given the chance, coyotes absolutely will attack people, especially small people, mostly children. I can prove that, go Google for example “Coyote Attacks on Humans in the United States and Canada. Wikipedia keeps a list of news reports with a link to each on Coyote Attacks on Humans, and they have made several attempts on children so far this year.

They are not a good solution to prey animal overpopulation because they are dangerous. Humans need to adopt that role safely.

And the behavior experts recommend when you see one is “hazing” because when naïve suburbanites stand there in an admiring way watching them and don’t haze them they HABITUATE them, make them lose fear of humans, and therefore they become dangerous.

G August 31, 2013 (9:48 am)

Agreed, Chris.

AJ September 1, 2013 (11:19 am)

Coyotes are NOT cool. They are dangerous, non-native (to western Washington) invaders. They don’t belong here. Remember the beautiful red foxes at West Seattle Golf Course? Killed by coyotes. Remember the beavers in Longfellow creek? Killed by Coyotes.

Lady, harass those coyotes, unless you want more of a confrontation later.

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