The My Ballard team received multiple emails over the weekend about a coyote that was spotted roaming the neighborhood.
My Ballard reader Anna spotted the coyote at 20th Ave NW and NW 80th St near the Loyal Heights Community Center’s park area.
“Last night (Friday) I was on my way home and turned onto my street to find what I first thought was a local dog, but upon further examination I realized it was a coyote. It ran south and I decided to follow it. After traipsing down the street, it then ran into Loyal Heights Community Center’s park area,” writes Anna. She didn’t see where the coyote went after that and she called the Community Center to report the sighting on Saturday morning.
My Ballard reader Diana also spotted most probably the same coyote on Friday evening on the corner of 34th Ave NW and NW 68th St. “It looked well fed and not afraid. Please remind folks to keep cats inside,” writes Diana.
Remember to be cautious and bring pets inside at night to decrease chances of a coyote attack. Also follow the tips from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife below:
- Don’t leave small children unattended where coyotes are frequently seen or heard. If there are coyote sightings in your area, prepare your children for a possible encounter. Explain the reasons why coyotes live there (habitat/food source/ species adaptability) and what they should do if one approaches them (don’t run, be as big, mean, and loud as possible). By shouting a set phrase such as “go away coyote” when they encounter one, children will inform nearby adults of the coyote’s presence as opposed to a general scream. Demonstrate and rehearse encounter behavior with the children.
- Never feed coyotes. Coyotes that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and develop a territorial attitude that may lead to aggressive behavior.
- Don’t give coyotes access to garbage. Keep garbage can lids on tight by securing them with rope, chain, bungee cords, or weights. Or keep your cans in tight-fitting bins, a shed, or a garage.
- Feed dogs and cats indoors. If you must feed your pets outside, do so in the morning or at midday, and pick up food, water bowls, leftovers, and spilled food well before dark.
- Keep dogs and cats indoors from dusk to dawn. If left outside at night in an unprotected area, cats and small to mid-size dogs may be killed by coyotes. If you suspect losing a dog or cat to a coyote, notify your neighbors. Once a coyote finds easy prey it will continually hunt in the area.
Did you spot the coyote? Email any information or photos to tips@myballard.com.
Its been around all summer. Appears to be very healthy and appropriately skittish. I hope it is feasting upon mountain beavers and rats. I have seen it a half dozen times.
Yeek, I hope it doesn’t find our free-ranging (in the backyard) chickens.
If it eats some raccoons, that would be helpful.
I saw it a few weeks ago in the road at 30 and 77th at 0500. It is a big coyote.
Saw the same coyote Fri evening out walking the dog around 11pm near 23rd and 75th. He stopped looked at us then continued down 75th. Looked to be a good size coyote.
So… does anyone know if any of the animal rescue agencies or other organizations are doing anything about this? I would think responsible reporting would include that information. This can’t be good for the coyote nor neighborhood pets or other critters. Or kids for that matter. Can anyone enlighten me? This just doesn’t seem like a good idea. Thank you.
What exactly do you expect to be done, Laura?
There are many coyotes in our area. Removing one will not make a difference.
And for those of you with ‘outdoor’ cats, keep letting them out, since Wile E. is getting hungry. If you think it’s ok for your cat to kill songbirds, it’s ok for my coyote friend to eat your cat.
Can you explain why having *wildlife* in your neighborhood is a bad and scary idea? Anyway, it’s a coyote, not a grizzly.
I saw it a couple weeks ago around 90th St. and 24th Ave., heading into a park I volunteer at:
http://www.natureintrudes.net/2014/08/23/monday-and-saturday/
The pictures are pretty blurry because I was so excited.
I, too, hope it’s eating mountain beavers and rats. There are plenty around.
Lyanda Lynn Haupt has a chapter on coyotes in her book “The Urban Bestiary.” It’s available from the library and Secret Garden Books. Well worth reading.
Coyotes are part of the normal urban flora and fauna and nothing to be overly concerned about. You can be sure that it is much more afraid of you and your children than you need to be of it. Use common sense and keep cats inside, don’t leave pet food on the porch etc. Try and enjoy the idea that we have an abundance of natural resources for these lovely creatures- even in the city!
I’ll leave my ACME anvil outside. That will scare him away.
We encountered one this evening (6ish) around the golden gardens upper trails- by the dog park- my huskies didn’t react and the coyote didn’t react. He/she was just roaming down the hill….I guess he/she was looking for water….it was too early for hunting dinner. ;-) Its to be expected to see wildlife around this time of year. Most are preparing for the fall/winter timeframe…hydrating and hunting….keep your eyes on your small dogs/cats during this time of year.