Coyote (Canis latrans) are present in most areas of Washington, from scrub grasslands to alpine areas, and in urban and suburban areas. They are common in many larger wooded green spaces and parks within cities, including Seattle.
You hear coyotes more often than you see them, especially if you have puppies. Young coyotes can often be heard trying to vocalize in the summer. Coyote sightings are more common in late winter and spring when they are more active and have dens and puppies to care for.
Coyotes are most active during the night, early morning and evening hours. Their diet is diverse and adapts to their surroundings, including everything from rabbits and small rodents to litter, bird seeds, and tree nuts.
Coyotes can also benefit humans and ecosystems by controlling mouse, rat, vole, mole, and rabbit populations.
Urban Coyote reminds you to keep an eye on children and small pets or keep them indoors if unsupervised. Please continue reading.
To minimize risk, keep cats indoors, dogs on leashes, avoid early morning and evening walks with pets in areas known to have coyotes, and generally keep children away. or pets.
Don’t run away from the coyote! If a coyote approaches, make a loud noise, swing a stick, blow it with a hose, or otherwise “blur” the coyote. Sit up, stare into the coyote’s eyes and shout. You can also throw something.
Coyote reports in urban or suburban areas can be submitted to regional science programs such as Woodland Park Zoo’s carnivorespotter.org/urban-carnivore-spotter/. For more information, visit zoo.org/seattlecarnivores. inaturalist.org/ is another popular site for reporting wildlife sightings.
The Washington State Fish and Wildlife Service (WDFW) asks you not to receive reports of coyotes engaging in normal activity.
If a resident witnesses a coyote attack or other aggressive behavior on a monitored pet (such as a leashed dog), WDFW biologists and enforcement officers (wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report -observations).
In the event of an imminent public safety issue, wildlife violation, or injured or dangerous animal, call the WDFW Enforcement Office at 360–902–2936 or enforcement-web@dfw.wa. Send an email to .gov.
More information on coyote symbiosis is available at wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/canis-latrans#conflict.
