Video of Coyote At Yesler Swamp

 Neighbors regularly report sightings of coyotes throughout the neighborhood.

One neighbor sent in this email recently saying:

Our son was walking his Corgi...and then saw this coyote prancing through the swamp on Wednesday, March 17th. You can see the video here.   

Neighbors have reported other coyote sightings:

• 46th Avenue NE and NE 47th Street
• 50th Street near 45th Ave NE
• overgrown area east of Villa Academy
• NE 41st Street and the Boulevard (43rd Avenue NE)
• Union Bay Natural area
• NE 39th Street and 49th Avenue NE
• 48th Ave NE just south of Laurelhurst park
• 46th Ave NE and NE 38th Street
• 44th Ave NE
• NE 41st Street and 48th Avenue NE 

One neighbor said:

We have lived in Laurelhurst for several decades and have regularly seen coyotes over all the many years. We see them often late at night and early in the morning in the back alley. The coyotes are part of the urban and suburban landscape who naturally clean up the environment of rodents, rabbits and the like. This was especially true when the dump near where the Urban Horticulture Center existed. Coyotes are known to be hunters and include cats and rabbits in their prey and rodents. Keep your animals inside at night.

Another neighbor told the Laurelhurst Blog:

The Washington Department of Agriculture – Wildlife Services specialist told me in a phone call that coyotes' main source of food is small dogs and domestic cats. They are excellent and opportunistic hunters. If you have indoor/outdoor cats, as we do, we were told that when they become victims they are no match for a coyote.  An urban coyote has a hunting radius of up to 1 mile. If you happened to encounter one, it was recommended to make them feel very unwelcome (i.e. throw rocks, make loud noises, etc. to scare them off). The more comfortable they feel, the more aggressive they get.  

In June of 2016, a pack of coyotes was shot by the USDA APHIS wildlife services, supposedly initiated by a call from Talaris management who told a neighbor:

The Talaris team was informed that the Department of Agriculture received multiple inquiries from the surrounding community regarding the increasingly aggressive nature of the coyotes living in the area. Wildlife specialists visited the neighborhood on multiple occasions to assess the safety of residents, Talaris guests, and the coyotes.

Jeanine Neskey, USDA:APHIS - Wildlife Services, commented at the time:

Wildlife services received a request to assist in the management of several coyotes near the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle. The coyotes had become increasingly aggressive toward people and pets in the area. Operations were conducted for three nights and included the use of a call box, a device which mimics animal distress sounds and attracts coyotes. Three coyotes were lethally removed. One coyote ran into heavy brambles on an adjacent property making it difficult to retrieve the body, and was removed first thing the following morning. It is believed there are no remaining coyotes on the property at this time.

Here is the King5 story regarding the incident titled "Neighbors divided over 3 coyotes killed in Laurelhurst."

For quite some time, residents mostly living  and using the trails near the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street) have regularly report coyote sightings, especially, during the spring of last year.   

Here is a post from the Union Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time photographer and birder about coyotes at nearby Union Bay.

Several neighbors suggested this site to learn more about coyote behaviour.

Here is information the Laurelhurst Blog has posted about living with urban coyotes.

2 Coyotes Seen at NE 45th Street And 46th Avenue NE Last Night

A neighbor reported hearing high pitched "wailing and crying" sounds for about 3 minutes last night around 11pm.

He told the Laurelhurst Blog:

It was a very disturbing type of cry. We thought it may have been a child, but figured out it was some type of animal being attacked by another animal. It was very loud. We went outside to see what it was and if we could help in any way. 

We saw 2 coyotes coming down the path on the north side of the park and walking out onto NE 45th Street and starting to walk down 46th Avenue NE near Laurelhurst Elementary School. 

Beware and keep your animals inside at night. We hope the animal either died instantly or managed to escape last night. We barely slept with that crying sound playing in our heads. Be vigilant.

In April of last year, the Laurelhurst Blog reported about a chihuahua dog taken from its front yard by coyotes while the owners were standing there. 

The owners told the Laurelhurst Blog:

We never thought this could happen in our yard and right on our walkway. Theyhave been spotted in other Laurelhurst yards. This is a reminder and example of how bold and stealthily coyotes can present. There were several rabbits in our yard at the time, but our dog was an easier target.  

I hope this will save another family from the trauma our little Bear has suffered. He was our child. Please report any coyote sightings to authorities and keep pets and children close. 

Neighbors have reported other coyote sightings in the neighborhood. One long time Laurelhurst resident sad he has seen coyotes regularly for four decades he has lived in the neighborhood, often late at night and early in the morning. He added that he can see them through his front entry camera.

One neighbor said "The coyotes are part of the urban and suburban landscape who naturally clean up the environment of rodents, rabbits and other animals. We remember this happening years ago when the Montlake Fill area, previously a dump, near where the Urban Horticulture Center was being shut down.


Another neighbor off of NE 39th reported that she has noticed that when rabbits are out, generally coyotes are out around the same time. She added "One evening walking my dog, we happened upon one suddenly and unexpectantly and the coyote didn't even move when he saw me.  He was probably hunting the large rabbit population in this area but he also probably viewed other small animals as fair game."

Other coyotes have been seen on on 48th Avenue NE just south of Laurelhurst park, corner of 46th Avenue NE and NE 38th Street early evening, 44th Avenue NE early morning, NE 41st at 48th Avenue NE around 10pm, NE 41st Street around midnight, intersection of NE 41st Street and the Boulevard (43rd Avenue NE), Laurelhurst Park about midnight.

In March of 2017, multiple sightings of coyotes were reported at the Union Bay Natural area.  In 3 months later, a pack of coyotes was shot by the USDA APHIS wildlife services, supposedly initiated by a call from Talaris management who told a neighbor:

The Talaris team was informed that the Department of Agriculture received multiple inquiries from the surrounding community regarding the increasingly aggressive nature of the coyotes living in the area. Wildlife specialists visited the neighborhood on multiple occasions to assess the safety of residents, Talaris guests, and the coyotes

Jeanine Neskey, USDA:APHIS - Wildlife Services, commented at the time:

Wildlife services received a request to assist in the management of several coyotes near the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle. The coyotes had become increasingly aggressive toward people and pets in the area. Operations were conducted for three nights and included the use of a call box, a device which mimics animal distress sounds and attracts coyotes. Three coyotes were lethally removed. One coyote ran into heavy brambles on an adjacent property making it difficult to retrieve the body, and was removed first thing the following morning. It is believed there are no remaining coyotes on the property at this time.

Here is the King5 story regarding the incident titled "Neighbors divided over 3 coyotes killed in Laurelhurst."

For quite some time, residents mostly living  and using the trails near the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street) have regularly report coyote sightings, especially, during the spring of last year.   

Here is a recent post from the Union Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time photographer and birder about coyotes at Union Bay.

Here is information the Laurelhurst Blog has posted about living with urban coyotes.

Coyote Snatches Chihuahua From Front Yard

The Laurelhurst Blog received this email:

We live on the 4400 block of 52nd Avenue NE in Laurelhurst.  On April 13th,we were coming home from an early (5:30 am) walk with our 2 chihuahuas, Bear and Van Gogh. 

A coyote entered our front yard and snatched Little Bear. The coyote seemed to have little regard for the fact that a human was right there.  

The coyote ran off with him in his mouth. It was devastating for us. Not accepting this could happen, we drove all over Laurelhurst looking for any sign of the coyote.  

Then, I remembered I had seen a pair of coyotes few months back at night roaming around by the large vacant house at the top of 45th and 52nd. By chance we turned on a side street and saw his body lying in the road.  

A miracle happened ...as I ran over to just hold him ..his eyes popped open. We rushed him to the Blue Pearl emergency room.  He came home and had fractures of his shoulder and a large puncture wound with a drain was placed.  His pink jacket has teeth marks that will not wash out.  

Unfortunately on 4/15, Bear passed away.  The trauma was too much for his little body.  We are praying for peace now . We notified animal control/ wildlife/ coyote website and haven't received a response yet. 

We never thought this could happen in our yard and right on our walkway. They have been spotted in other Laurelhurst yards. This is a reminder and example of how bold and stealthily coyotes can present. There were several rabbits in our yard at the time, but our dog was an easier target.  

I hope this will save another family from the trauma our little Bear has suffered. He was our child. 

Please report any coyote sightings to authorities and keep pets and children close.

Many Coyote Sightings In The Neighborhood

Coyotes have been seen all over the neighborhood. Just last night neighbors reported seeing coyotes.

One neighbor said:

Last night, June 28th, my son saw a coyote on 43rd street, near the park.  Wanted to remind families with small cats and dogs to be cautious.

Another neighbor said:

Last night a coyote was spotted east of the park on NE 43rd Street around 10pm.  

Other sightings have been on 41st Avenue NE, 48th Ave NE very early in the morning, 3000 block of East Laurelhurst Drive and the cul de sac at 43rd Avenue NE.

Neighbors also commented that coyotes don't usually go after people but they can go after dogs and small children. And the Department of Agriculture reports that the diet of urban coyotes primary diet includes small dogs, cats and rats. 

In March of last year, multiple sightings of coyotes were reported at the Union Bay Natural area.  

For quite some time, residents mostly living  and using the trails near the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street) have regularly report coyote sightings, especially, during the spring of last year.

And in June of last year, a pack of coyotes was shot by the USDA APHIS wildlife services, supposedly initiated by a call from Talaris management who told a neighbor:

The Talaris team was informed that the Department of Agriculture received multiple inquiries from the surrounding community regarding the increasingly aggressive nature of the coyotes living in the area. Wildlife specialists visited the neighborhood on multiple occasions to assess the safety of residents, Talaris guests, and the coyotes

Jeanine Neskey, USDA:APHIS - Wildlife Services, commented at the time:

Wildlife services received a request to assist in the management of several coyotes near the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle. The coyotes had become increasingly aggressive toward people and pets in the area. Operations were conducted for three nights and included the use of a call box, a device which mimics animal distress sounds and attracts coyotes. Three coyotes were lethally removed. One coyote ran into heavy brambles on an adjacent property making it difficult to retrieve the body, and was removed first thing the following morning. It is believed there are no remaining coyotes on the property at this time.

Here is the King5 story regarding the incident titled "Neighbors divided over 3 coyotes killed in Laurelhurst."

Here is a recent post from the Union Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time photographer and birder about coyotes at Union Bay.

Here is information the Laurelhurst Blog has posted about living with urban coyotes 

And here is a recent Seattle Times article about living with coyotes.

More Coyote Sightings In The Neighborhood



 coyote at Union bay Natural Area

The Laurelhurst Blog has received several reports and a picture of  coyotes around the neighborhood. 

One resident said he saw a coyote when walking his dog early in the morning at the intersection of  NE 41st Street and the Boulevard (43rd Avenue NE).  The coyote was reported to be about the size of a dog weighing about 50 pounds and ran away when he saw the dog.  The neighbor commented that he has seen several coyotes at the Union Bay Natural area but never one so close.

Another neighbor reported several cats that died around 55th Avenue NE, most likely due to coyotes. Another coyote was spotted in Laurelhurst Park about midnight. recently 

Neighbors commented that coyotes don't usually go after people but they can go after dogs and small children. And the Department of Agriculture reports that the diet of urban coyotes primary diet includes small dogs, cats and rats. 

In March, multiple sightings of coyotes were reported at the Union Bay Natural area.  

And in June of last year, a pack of coyotes was shot by the USDA APHIS wildlife services, supposedly initiated by a call from Talaris management who told a neighbor:

The Talaris team was informed that the Department of Agriculture received multiple inquiries from the surrounding community regarding the increasingly aggressive nature of the coyotes living in the area. Wildlife specialists visited the neighborhood on multiple occasions to assess the safety of residents, Talaris guests, and the coyotes

Jeanine Neskey, USDA:APHIS - Wildlife Services, commented at the time:

Wildlife services received a request to assist in the management of several coyotes near the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle. The coyotes had become increasingly aggressive toward people and pets in the area. Operations were conducted for three nights and included the use of a call box, a device which mimics animal distress sounds and attracts coyotes. Three coyotes were lethally removed. One coyote ran into heavy brambles on an adjacent property making it difficult to retrieve the body, and was removed first thing the following morning. It is believed there are no remaining coyotes on the property at this time.

Here is the King5 story regarding the incident titled "Neighbors divided over 3 coyotes killed in Laurelhurst."

For quite some time, residents mostly living  and using the trails near the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street) have regularly report coyote sightings, especially, during the spring of last year.   

Here is a recent post from the Union Bay Watch Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time photographer and birder about coyotes at Union Bay.

Here is information the Laurelhurst Blog has posted about living with urban coyotes

Coyotes Recently Spotted At Union Bay Natural Area



The Laurelhurst Blog has received several reports and a picture of  coyotes in the Union Bay Natural Area,.  

On Wednesday, March 27, several neighbors saw the same coyote very early in the morning, around 7am.   

One neighbor said that the coyote was not scared, but just watched the activity and then walked into the woods.  .

Another Laurelhurst resident said he was about 20 feet away from the coyote when he was walking by and the coyote wasn't too spooked when he saw him.

An several residents said they could hear coyotes howling during the last few nights. 

In June of last year, a pack of coyotes was shot by the USDA APHIS wildlife services, supposedly initiated by a call from Talaris management who told a neighbor:

The Talaris team was informed that the Department of Agriculture received multiple inquiries from the surrounding community regarding the increasingly aggressive nature of the coyotes living in the area. Wildlife specialists visited the neighborhood on multiple occasions to assess the safety of residents, Talaris guests, and the coyotes

Jeanine Neskey, USDA:APHIS - Wildlife Services, commented at the time:

Wildlife services received a request to assist in the management of several coyotes near the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle. The coyotes had become increasingly aggressive toward people and pets in the area. Operations were conducted for three nights and included the use of a call box, a device which mimics animal distress sounds and attracts coyotes. Three coyotes were lethally removed. One coyote ran into heavy brambles on an adjacent property making it difficult to retrieve the body, and was removed first thing the following morning. It is believed there are no remaining coyotes on the property at this time.

The Laurelhurst Blog contacted several property managers and representatives at Talaris asking for verification of the incident and where the coyote bodies are and if traps are on the property and there was no response. 

Here is the King5 story regarding the incident titled "Neighbors divided over 3 coyotes killed in Laurelhurst."

For quite some time, residents mostly living  and using the trails near the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street) have regularly report coyote sightings, especially, during the spring of last year.   

Coyote, Deer Neighborhood Sightings

The Laurelhurst Blog has received reports and pictures about sightings of deer, coyote and rabbits. 

Here are some of the sightings and comments reported:

I thought I saw a smallish and skittish coyote around midnight on my way home through the Center for Urban Horticulture recently.  And there also have been plenty of rabbits.

So wonderful to have the urban wildlife.  For sure the rabbit population will benefit from the absence of three coyotes killed this summer. More food for the eagles.  

The deer and all the bunnies take one look at the state of the Talaris site and think it's the wild, hence they will roam towards it. 

Let's hope someone doesn't decide the deer is a threat to landscaping or something and have it "offed" in the dark of night by the Department of Agriculture.

This coyote (pictured above) recently watched us, as we looked at him from our windows, for at least a full 15 minutes recently one afternoon around 2pm.  The fence in front of him is a small enclosed area for our tiny 10 pound dog.  This is my first coyote sighting ever and just steps from our back patio.  Is it usual for coyotes to be out in the middle of the day and appearing to be unafraid of humans? Was he waiting for our dog to come out for his noontime snack? Or perhaps he prefers the numerous squirrels who like to play back there or even just a crow? Or could he have been rabid?  I prefer to think of coyotes hunting rats while we sleep in areas like the wooded portion of the Villa property or the Center for Urban Horticulture wetlands or Talaris. I have warned my immediate neighbors but I wanted to make a slightly broader neighbor warning to be vigilant and watch your pets closely as I could never predicted what we saw today.  He nearly drove the crows insane before turning and running into the bushes towards a neighbor's house and the Beach Club.

I saw a coyote in Laurelhurst Park on November 3oth. It seemed to be very curious about humans, but still somewhat fearful. It ran away from me and my dog and then stopped and looked back at us.

… View more                           

I saw a coyote that ran quickly across the entrance to the Park right in front of my car recently in the evening. He was small and very healthy looking.

I saw a coyote running down the sidewalk on NE 42nd Street.  Best to keep pets inside. 

Several coyotes killed our cat about two months ago. We are aware that there is a pack that lives in Villa' Academy's green belt. Be extra vigilant with your small pets.

Anyone encountering a coyote or others will help them by trying to scare them aware so that they don't get habituated and don't become afraid of people.

As I was driving past Talaris, I saw three full size coyotes running in a pack away from my headlights. 
Seems we have some new neighbors:  a fox family, and a doe and her fawn, in addition to the buck that moved into the Urban Horticulture area.  Let's all be aware that we share the roads with the people, pets, and wildlife in our neighborhood and slow down.
.

A few days ago I saw this deer in my yard. He stayed for a few minutes and then jumped the fence toward Yesler Creek area. Looks like a young buck.

We saw a young deer walking along on the sidewalk in front of the Horticulture Center.

Deer and coyotes pictures taken by neighbors:  

Neighbors also sent comments regarding coexisting with the various animals:

City of Seattle is not a healthy environment for deer. While it's wonderful to see wildlife in your won backyard, things probably won't end well for the poor animals as this is not a natural habitat for them and there are so many hazards they don't know how to deal with. 

The potentially dangerous urban coyotes are those that boldly show themselves in plain sight during daytime hours, like the ones reported in the neighborhood.

They are the ones most likely to attack pets, small children (1-year-old, a 4-year-old bitten by coyotes in separate incidents in the Eastgate area of Bellevue and even adult humans.  Coyotes can easily get into most fenced yards to attack pets and children, so beware of leaving yours unattended.  One study reported about a dozen coyote attacks [on humans] occurred each year between 1985 and 2006.  

One neighbor offered information his is from the "Urban Coyotes" page on Portland's Audubon website:

"Coyotes and Humans

Unless habituated to humans, coyotes are generally shy and wary and present a minimal risk to humans.

There has only been one human death attributed to coyote predation in the United States. This occurred in California in the 1970s when a coyote that had been deliberately habituated to human handouts preyed upon his human feeder's three-year-old child.

Those incidents that have occurred nationwide most often fall into the category of nips, bites and scratches rather than predatory attacks and almost always follow situations in which the coyote has been deliberately habituated to human handouts."

If people are smart about not providing food to coyotes, not letting small pets out unattended (many reasons why people shouldn't do this anyway...), or engaging with the coyotes as more than distant observers, there likely won't be an issue. But just one neighbor feeding a coyote can create a monster, so the more we can all learn to adapt, the better. Removing coyotes only opens up space for more to move in, and they will.

A curious coyote roaming in the daylight is not unusual.. They search out opportunities at all hours. They are no danger to people unless they're rabid, which is very unusual. They will run if … View more confronted. Small dogs are on their menu, but they are more likely to go after small game such as squirrels and rats, they love to gooble up rats. If you leave dog food out, they will come by to help themselves. On occasion a coyote will become too acclimated to our environment and abandon their natural hunting in favor of feeding on our garbage and pets. When this happens animal control has to remove them. Most of the time they're just passing through and making some noise and assuming an aggressive posture will encourage them on their way. If they want to hang around a little while and eat some rats, I'll cut them some slack.

Here is information the Laurelhurst Blog has posted about living with urban coyotes.

Neighbor Snaps Close- Up Picture Of Deer At Union Bay And Coyote Pup Seen Exiting Talaris

A few weeks ago a neighbor reported seeing a coyote that ran out of Talaris towards the Yesler Swap in the late morning.

The neighbor said the put "was fast and looked healthy.:

The neighbor added "I was very happy to see him.  The pup seem old enough to take care of itself and now we need to make sure he is protected." 

A deer sighting was also reported in the "Union Bay Watch" Blog published by Larry Hubbell, long-time photographer and birder.  

Here is the post:

---

Union Bay Surprise This refreshing email arrived yesterday (July 17th - 2016) from the Union Bay Natural Area. "Hi, Larry, this Peter Korch. I was so happy to bump into and meet you over by the Osprey platform in Union Bay this morning. My wife Linda and I finished our regular walk at Union Bay and then walked the Yesler Swamp. Among the usual birds we also saw one adult Belted Kingfisher with a juvenile screaming for food wings a flapping. That was fun. We then strolled back to our car in the parking lot at the C.U.H. (Center for Urban Horticulture). As I was loading the camera equipment in the car my wife says, "No Way". I look up to just catch the rear end of this fellow crossing the path down the way. So I grabbed the camera took off and caught a few shots. Took these about 1 hour after we spoke. It was about 12:15p.m. I thought you might get a kick out of this guy, been visiting Union Bay for 30 years seen a lot of great birds and wildlife there but never one of these. I love your work and blog!  Best Regards, Peter" Thank you, Peter. I was stunned to see the following photos (Peter's comments included.) "Very calm, good size what a treat to see this beauty at Union Bay lots of great tender greens to eat Could hear me coming, tricky one to approach with all the dry leaf cover" This looks like the local native Mule Deer, which may also be called, "The Black-tailed Deer". If you keep your eyes peeled, while visiting the Union Bay Natural Area, you too might get to see this wandering wild creature. Thanks again! - To Peter. Have a great day on Union Bay...where even deer graze in the city! Larry Hubbell ps: Given the way his left prong is taller than the right, I suggest we call him, "Lefty".