While it’s not uncommon to see coyotes in Ballard, it is less common to be followed by one, much less two.
Early this morning, Ballard resident Arne Snevoll was out walking his two small dogs on NW 68th St between 28th and 30th Ave NW when he was surrounded by two coyotes. “One coyote was striding plainly out in front of me, while the second was following 10 to 15 feet behind me, keeping mostly out of sight behind parked cars,” Snevoll told My Ballard in an email. “When I tried to shoo the one in front of me away, the coyote behind would come up closer to my dogs. I’m sure my dogs seemed like tasty snacks to them,” he wrote.
“The coyotes were not very fearful,” Snevoll added.
There have been a number of recent reports in the My Ballard Group of pets missing and being killed by coyotes — one member reported that his cat, Sugar, was unfortunately lost to a coyote attack. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommend dogs and cats should be kept inside, especially 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. Pets can be easy prey for coyotes,” the WDFW say on their Living with Wildlife website. “Being raised by humans leaves them unsuspecting once they leave the safety of your home. 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.”