WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Two coyote sightings further north, plus survey reminder

A texter just told us, “No photo but just saw a coyote in North Admiral at 35th and College.” That’s the second one today, both from the north half of the peninsula, after a long string of sightings mostly in Gatewood and Fauntleroy. Here’s one we received from Fiona near The Junction this morning:

We had a coyote visit our front yard today. We are at 41st between Oregon and Genesee. The resident crows alerted us and eventually ran him off. He/she was very healthy looking.

This also provides us the opportunity to mention researcher Dr. Sam Kreling, previously known for studying Seattle’s urban coyotes. She’s hoping to start a nonprofit “that focuses on helping people live with wildlife, so she’s running a study to find out “what YOUR community needs/wants to live with wildlife and what you might want to learn about the wildlife in your neighborhood.” To respond to Sam’s survey, follow this link.

anonyme April 24, 2025 (6:39 am)

Wildlife is not the problem. Roaming and off-leash domesticated pets are a safety and public health problem, do property damage, and kill wildlife – especially birds.

Frog April 24, 2025 (10:16 am)

Cat ladies note well, who are really your friends.
- anonyme April 24, 2025 (1:36 pm)
  
  Not exactly sure what your comment means, but I happen to be one of those cat ladies. An indoor cat. It’s possible to love cats and wildlife simultaneously; having an indoor cat is one way to protect both.
Pet owner April 24, 2025 (12:26 pm)

Wildlife has become a problem because they are stalking people and pets on sidewalks and roads. Personally, I’ve had one go after me and my dog while I was walking it on a leash. I wish they could grab them and relocate but not feasible. And before anyone says “they were here first” to some extent yes, but they will go where the food is – these are probably being fed by humans – on purpose or not.
- Firefighter April 24, 2025 (4:01 pm)
  
  Yassss – have had nothing but grief from being stalked by crows! lol – and who would knowingly, willfully feed a coyote? Most damage I’ve experienced was done by willfully feeding evil raccoons (large furry murderous cockroaches) and demonic squirrels (narcissistic rats with fluffy tails). Maybe with more coyotes “nature” will reduce squirrels and raccoons – though I doubt a coyote would go after a full size raccoon but I bet they find the kits tasty.
  - WSB April 24, 2025 (4:56 pm)
    
    According to the researcher (look at her study, linked in the pitch for the survey), it’s a problem.
    - anonyme April 25, 2025 (6:15 am)
      
      I took the survey and nowhere did I see either the word “problem” or a suggestion that wildlife poses one. The problem, if there is one, is anthropocentric attitudes.
- Eric1 April 24, 2025 (4:47 pm)
  
  I take it you don’t have a flock guardian dog like a Great Pyrenees who would have gotten between you and the coyote to protect its flock. The coyote, on the other hand, was properly seeing if you were going to protect your flock. It was wondering if you or your dog would make a run for it when challenged. When you showed that you were not intimidated, the coyote probably just walked away. It isn’t malicious, just the natural order of things; no harm was done when everyone did their job. Some dogs are meant to protect their charges (see the recent story of a flock guardian dog who brought home a lost child in Arizona) while some dogs need protection from predators by their guardians.

Eric1 April 24, 2025 (11:01 am)

That is a great looking coyote. I know you shouldn’t take wildlife home with you but it is no small wonder on why humans domesticated canines as companion animals.

anonyme April 24, 2025 (4:03 pm)

There’s actually some good evidence that it happened the other way around. Much like ravens lead wolves to prey so that they can scavenge on the remains, canids may have led hominids to prey for the same purpose – thus domesticating us.