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May 22, 2011 at 2:25 am #599009
blackwatchMemberLast night at 3:00 am we heard a sound outside and looked out to see a coyote right in our front yard. We live at Jeaneau and 34th sw. He or she, had the requisite big ears, was medium sized and was looking a bit skinny and mangy. He or she, took off heading towards Camp Long….
May 22, 2011 at 3:43 am #724817
flowerpetalMemberThis makes me happy to read that coyotes continue to exist in this densely peopled area. Of course I am always saddened to read about the demise of someone’s beloved pet. But…
I’m curious what noise awakened you and was it the coyote that caused it? They are usually quite stealthy and I”m surprised that a noise was made which caused you to wake.
Thanks for the report.
May 22, 2011 at 1:20 pm #724818
anonymeParticipantI see coyotes as a possible bonus. In the wild, rodents are a dietary staple for both wolves and coyotes. Perhaps coyotes could help reduce the West Seattle rat population…I’d like to recruit one to guard my strawberries this year!
May 22, 2011 at 3:41 pm #724819
datamuseParticipantSome years ago I read an article in the Seattle Times that said that coyotes have actually increased as a result of the population density here (so have crows, of which there were evidently hardly any in the area before the establishment of Seattle and other urban centers). Both species are basically scavengers, and we leave plenty for them to scavenge.
May 22, 2011 at 4:43 pm #724820
WednesdayMemberI’ve wondered if the increase of our homeless population with more people squatting in our greenbelts and wooded areas next to freeways and such has pushed the coyotes into more residential areas??
May 22, 2011 at 10:31 pm #724821
flowerpetalMemberI think the homeless encampments are not the problem. Its the destruction of the green belts to build homes for our ever burgeoning population which has squeezed the coyote population into smaller spaces. Couple the urban sprawl with irresponsible cat owners and the coyotes’ hunger for a diminishing food source.
May 22, 2011 at 11:40 pm #724822
datamuseParticipantI think Flowerpetal has the right of it. I’m seeing a lot more homeless encampments than in years past, but I’m not seeing them in greenbelts (though it’s not like I’ve made a systematic survey or anything). And I don’t think coyotes are living in your backyard, though they might be looking for food there. We’re getting into the time of year where they have pups to feed.
That means keep your pets inside, secure your garbage, and don’t leave pet food or other food sources where coyotes can get at them. Wild animals becoming habituated to humans and thinking of us as food sources tends to end badly for them, much more so than for us.
May 22, 2011 at 11:42 pm #724823
anonymeParticipantIf anything, homeless encampments would ATTRACT coyotes, not deter them, due to trash and outdoor cooking. As datamuse pointed out, coyotes are scavengers. The coyote (and crow) populations increase in direct proportion to human population. Increase – not decrease. Coyote populations have exploded nationwide for several reasons: the elimination of their only natural predator, wolves; and vast amounts of easy pickings in the form of human garbage and domesticated felines.
May 23, 2011 at 2:56 pm #724824
lucky chickMemberI think some people have heard yipping/howling in West Seattle. I haven’t (they probably wouldn’t be calling right in the yard, anyway – it’s more of a territorial thing, between/within-pack communication). But we did once get awakened by our normally passive dog in the middle of the night when he went ballistic in the bedroom – we looked out the window to see a coyote on the street. Our dog rarely even barks!
May 23, 2011 at 3:51 pm #724825
flowerpetalMemberYou raise a good topic Lucky Chick. I don’t know why coyotes yip n yowl. I’ve seen and heard them do that in the middle of the night in my brother’s yard in the desert. Here in WS I’ve read reports about the howling in the ravines and green belts. I’ve only heard them once here and they were far away.
May 23, 2011 at 4:02 pm #724826
DPMemberWhat? Yipping and howling! Coyotes?!
Ha! And all this time I thought it was just the Bloggers doing their thing.
May 23, 2011 at 4:02 pm #724827
lucky chickMemberI’ve read that the howls and yips are for different purposes, but both seem territorial to me (I study wildlife but not mammals particularly). I believe there’s the communuication within groups (“I’m lost, where are you guys?”) and among groups (“stay outta Camp Long, it’s ours”), but I’m sure better info is a few clicks away. Would just seem weird to have them howl in your suburban yard.
May 23, 2011 at 4:04 pm #724828
dobroParticipantA few months ago one launched a howl in my backyard about 15-20 feet from my bedroom window. Man, did I jump! Those critters are loud! Then he yipped for a bit and took off. Seaview neighborhood.
May 23, 2011 at 4:12 pm #724829
lucky chickMemberCool! I bet a lot of cat fur was on-end that night!
May 24, 2011 at 1:41 am #724830
anonymeParticipantDobro, that’s so awesome. Wish that would happen in my neighborhood! When I visit my friend on her New Mexico ranch, we sit outside at night under the stars and listen to the coyotes sing. They generate an amazing array of vocalizations, from joyful and frenzied to almost eerie. Fascinating creatures.
May 24, 2011 at 3:58 pm #724831
yeah-meParticipantLucky chick is spot on – although it is less about being lost as gathering back together after separating to hunt. They definitely warn other packs to stay out of their territory; the parents will spread and howl to draw attention to themselves if there is danger to their pups (say a wolf wandering around); and lastly, the young coyotes make a lot of noise while learning to sound like their parents.
May 24, 2011 at 5:08 pm #724832
WSBKeymasterFor coyote fans, four recent sightings (two just this morning) including a playful photo, just in on the news page. I will add a cross-link to this thread.
https://westseattleblog.com/2011/05/west-seattle-coyotes-4-sightings-including-wanna-play
July 11, 2011 at 7:17 pm #724833
squareeyesParticipantI was golfing on Sunday morning at West Seattle. When we were on the 7th hole tee box we noticed a pair of coyotes casually strolling across the fairway not too far behind the group of players in front of us. They headed into the woods alongside that fairway, or so we thought. We hit our balls and headed up the fairway. They were off to the side and stayed 100-odd feet ahead of us, sometimes further, sometimes a bit closer. They seemed to be gone when we got to the 8th green. If you know the course, the 9th hole is long and sloping so you can’t really see far ahead on part of it. As we’re playing the 9th one of the coyotes was relaxing in the middle of the fairway about halfway down. One of my foursome hit her ball which headed right towards the coyote. He jumped up and ran after the ball, grabbing it and settling down to have a good chew. Well, this annoyed the golfer who started yelling and running towards it, golf club in hand. Apparently this was part of the game and the coyote was not remotely scared and clearly having a good time. He ran up into the trees, hunkered down and started chewing again so another of the players made a noisy and golf club armed attempt at scaring him off. Nope, he was not giving up his chew toy for anything. We left him to it. It was so unexpected and comical. We all understand that ‘playing’ with coyotes is a bad thing. But the noisy, threatening action had little effect. The coyotes on the golf course have already overcome their fear of golfers.
The big question is, did she have to take a penalty stroke for losing a ball??
July 12, 2011 at 3:00 am #724834
hammerheadParticipantThat is hilarious. Pay back is a bitch:) LOL
July 12, 2011 at 3:15 am #724835
shed22ParticipantCoyotes are great when they are not eating pets. I appreciate and have great respect for the natural wildlife in West Seattle. I remember a coyote casually strolling down 49th ave in Seaview; it was wonderful. To keep pets safe from natural wildlife, keep them in at night. Thanks to WSB, I now understand that coyotes will feed on rats (if cats’ are not available). Let the coyotes help us naturally rid our land of rats
AND
do what you can to prevent coyotes from becoming too comfortable with humans. They are not pets and should not be treated as such.
July 12, 2011 at 5:04 am #724836
hammerheadParticipantShed22 I don’t think it is intentional, it is just that the coyote is used to us. That fact it did not run and chased a ball says to me he was playing. For them not to be comfortable with us, well maybe we should get out of where they live.
Sure sure keep cats inside. Still a funny story. Great to even have witnessed it.
July 12, 2011 at 5:29 pm #724837
shed22ParticipantI am sure you are right, hammerhead. My concern is that if a coyote approaches a child, the populace will be up in arms and out for blood.
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