WEST SEATTLE COYOTES: Arbor Heights sighting

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The photo is from Abigail G., who spotted two coyotes – including that one – around 1:30 am today. She first saw them at 34th and 102nd and “followed them for a block before I could get a good photo. They were both in the middle of the road when I turned the corner and one took off down 102nd and the other one went into a yard.” This continues the recent resurgence in sightings (you can scroll through our archives here). So it’s a good time to learn about coexistence – including encouraging them to keep their distance by not providing food (from pet food to unaccompanied pets) – they can live just find by foraging for everything from fruit to rodents.

DD August 13, 2023 (5:54 pm)

Fantastic photo with the shadow factor!

Tracey August 13, 2023 (7:37 pm)

Can we shoot them? Why are we letting wild animals kill are pets. If this was a bear, they’d be shot by animal control. Years ago, I encountered a Seattle Parks officer releasing a wild coyote in Schmitz Park in hopes it would unite with the local pack there. He asked me to leave with my dog and let the coyote acclimate. He said I could return in an hour or so. He commented on how controversial his actions were. Again, why are we so complacent about coyotes? Serious answers appreciated from those in the industry.

Also John August 13, 2023 (8:24 pm)

No you can’t shoot them….. They need food to live just like you eat fish and animals to live…. They were here first.
datamuse August 13, 2023 (9:11 pm)

If it was a bear it would be highly unlikely to come into the city in the first place. Coyotes are different. They go where conditions are favorable, and we’ve built great conditions for them.

Let me ask you this: why do you think shooting them will be effective? Okay, you got rid of one coyote. A few more will come along to take their place. That’s how ecological niches work. Do you propose to eradicate them?

If you’re really worried about pet safety, I’d propose that you’d do better to advocate for safer driving, fewer cars, and leash law enforcement. Cars and dogs kill far more pets than do coyotes.
HS August 13, 2023 (9:49 pm)

No you cannot shoot them. They are natural predators for rats, rabbits and rodents. They’ve always been here. People can keep their pets indoors and leashed to help keep them safe.
- Common Sense August 14, 2023 (9:16 am)
  
  Common sense agrees with this
  - Oh My August 15, 2023 (1:05 pm)
    
    That’s hilarious
Ann August 13, 2023 (10:04 pm)

I’m pretty sure firing a gun within city limits would be illegal since houses are so close together. But the WA state department of fish and wildlife has a section on lethal control of coyotes which is interesting. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/canis-latrans#living
Beto August 13, 2023 (11:21 pm)

I prefer to see coyotes over rabbits and rats!
- ed August 14, 2023 (7:54 pm)
  
  I prefer to see coyotes over cats and dogs!
fluffy August 14, 2023 (12:30 am)

If you don’t want to see your pets killed by them, keep them indoors except under supervision. It’s better for them anyway.
Totellthetruth… August 14, 2023 (12:35 am)

A little bit of quick research shows Western Washington is ,in fact, not part of the historic range of the Coyote. Seems from the little I have read so far that prior to 1900 they were not present on this side of the Cascades. Just a little tid bit for the “they were here first”or the “they have always been here” crowd.
ttt August 14, 2023 (10:14 am)

Keep your domestic animal on a leash and it will be fine. Coyotes don’t bother people and if your animal is leashed it won’t be without it’s person. Coyotes help our ecosystem by eating rodents.
anonyme August 15, 2023 (9:38 am)

Datamuse is spot on. Coyotes are a minimal threat to roaming pets (we’re talking cats here, right?) compared to cars, off-leash dogs, and outdoor rat poison. Furthermore, roaming cats are a public nuisance in their own right. They kill wild birds, destroy gardens, and cause property damage. IMO, cats should be subject to the same restrictions as dogs and required to be contained either by an outdoor enclosure or a leash. Or perhaps I should follow your logic and just shoot cats? (That was a hypothetical, btw. I would never hurt any animal.) The fact that you are an irresponsible pet owner is not justification for shooting animals that take wily advantage of your ignorance in order to survive.

Robert Lessley August 13, 2023 (8:39 pm)

Omg! It’s another wild animal that’s being pushed out by human overpopulation and entitlement, quick kill it! There is a price to pay for everything food for thought

1994 August 13, 2023 (9:10 pm)

There are some really noisy dogs who bark like there is no tomorrow in my area….a coyote could come prowling and maybe the noisy dog situation would be controlled. The humans can’t control their noisy dogs but maybe nature could.

Adam August 13, 2023 (9:17 pm)

How hilarious. The coyotes will take care of the problem? First off, they would alarm the neighborhood dogs and the barking would begin. Then, the coyote would leave. Or maybe it would stay, but it wouldn’t take on domestic dogs, it would avoid those yards. And the barking would continue. Most wildlife looks to be left alone, as nearly every encounter with other species has a high probability of death for one or more parties involved.

Ken August 13, 2023 (10:32 pm)

Having recently moved out of west Seattle, Fauntleroy area…green belt behind my old house…this is what I know.You can shoot a coyote If it is a danger to you or your property, which your pet is your property. You just need to call the city to report the discharge of the firearm. I had to do this after the city banned traps and my kids were threatened by them. Two adult with cubs charged my kids in my backyard.As I now returned to my birthplace in north kitsap…we have everything from bear, cougar, coyote…etc.Coyotes will go after your dogs and cats. We shoot them here when they become a problem like going after chickens or goats. They multiply rapidly and should be considered dangerous as they carry diseases and will hunt just about anything.Just my 2 cents…they don’t like humans or loud noises…if you encounter one and it doesn’t leave the area, be careful.

WiseWoman August 13, 2023 (11:21 pm)

Tell me you all know nothing about coyotes without telling me!! 1- No you can not discharge a firearm in city limits. 2- Coyotes will not avoid yards with dogs. 3- Coyotes have specific behaviors and when hungry enough they will pick the easiest food albeit small animals and if thats your pets and you did nothing to protect your pets then that is your responsibility. 4 – Coyotes have lived in WS forever. We used to see way more. The population declined and now is on the rise again. 5- Coyotes have gotten more aggressive since homeless persons have moved into their ravines and gulleys etc. 6- Do NOT let your dogs (big or small) off leash in your yard to potty at night. And small dogs never, you have to be standing out there in very close proximity or have them leashed because Coyotes and Birds of Prey will come for them day or night. 7- cats also have to be careful if they are outdoor/indoor cats. Catios are safe alternatives and do work well depending on how built. Above all Nature must be nurtured. It is your human responsibility to reduce, reuse, resell, relinquish, and do everything in your power to make a lesser carbon footprint on mother earth and its inhabitants. Stop buying all the consumer hype and learn to live simply, which also means to stop buying cheap crap and learn to love stuff for a lifetime. You will be happier when you don’t kill the coyotes or the whales or whatever etc.

Rhonda August 14, 2023 (12:55 am)

Yes, you CAN discharge a firearm in the city limits if you’re defending yourself against a violent attack, whether that be a knife-wielding maniac or a coyote charging at your toddler.
- Anywhere but here August 14, 2023 (8:10 pm)
  
  Quit with the fear mongering Rhonda
  - Rhonda August 14, 2023 (10:09 pm)
    
    Quit with the juvenile, peanut gallery heckling, Anywhere but here. The law of legal and illegal firearms discharge states self-defense as the one exception.
    - Anywhere but here August 15, 2023 (9:55 pm)
      
      Coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare. But consider me not surprised you thought my comment was about your love of guns. One track mind huh?

Sillygoose August 14, 2023 (8:10 am)

Tracey!! Can you shoot them, seriously!!! These coyotes were here long before your uneducated presence. The amount of rats and rabbits are the first sign of unbalanced food chain. They are a welcomed sight.

Applause August 14, 2023 (8:39 am)

Amen, WiseWoman. Well said.

Noel August 14, 2023 (9:40 am)

A coyote killed my beloved Hubert when we had a run last summer. Keep your pets safe. Unfortunately my cat refused to stay in and ironically both my cats could sense one across the creek while in the house, so we thought he would know, but they are expert hunters.

Admiral-2009 August 14, 2023 (10:01 am)

So far Fluffy the rabbit has alluded the Coyotes, however many of his brethren have not. Coyotes are important to control rat and rabbit populations. Keep your pets inside!

Ken August 14, 2023 (9:22 pm)

Following up to my previous post…to which Rhoda responded to.I stated you can discharge a firearm in defense against wildlife…I spoke with the police and fish and wildlife. Both confirmed this…please contact your local law enforcement to confirm. It’s unfortunate it doesn’t meet your beliefs, but it is factual. I stated the facts in a previous post. Unfortunately the city of Seattle banned traps for urban areas…putting people and wildlife at risk.

anonyme August 15, 2023 (9:48 am)

If this is indeed the case, then don’t I have the right to shoot cats that are destroying my garden, or killing birds? Not that I would, but what’s good for the goose…species shouldn’t matter.
Tracey August 15, 2023 (9:19 pm)

Thanks Ken. Sorry for your pet Noel.
My @sillygoose uneducated presence with 7 years of post secondary education is perhaps stupid or just book smart but not uneducated. Serious question and wonder why nobody commented on the most controversial component of my post. SEATTLE PARKS IS RELEASING WILD COYOTES INTO URBAN PARKS. I find this problemtatic. I don’t own a pet. If I did, it would be indoor only. But, as usual, all the WSB gets is people snarking about their opinion. Typical social media crap.