Coyote will be left alone for now

The Discovery Park coyote has been given a reprieve.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, after a meeting with the Seattle Parks Department, said it has no plans to remove the coyote from the park.

"As of today it's status quo," said Ken Gruver, assistant state director for USDA Wildlife Services in Olympia. "We're all scratching our heads."

Initially the government planned to shoot the coyote, which raised a flood of protests and Gruver said the government decided the park was too crowded to attempt to shoot the animal.

"As of now we have no plans to remove the coyote," he said, adding that he believes there are several of the animals in the park.

Earlier, when there was talk of shooting the animal, he said the coyote was showing aggressive tendencies to people and animals. "There's an indication it's losing its fear of humans and could be a human health and safety issue," said Gruver.

A coyote has snatched a cat and chased a small dog in the park.

Gruver said he met with Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher Wednesday night and outlined several options for dealing with the coyote, ultimately deciding to do nothing right now.

"It's good news and very, very good news for the coyote," said Joelle Ligon, spokeswoman for Seattle Parks. "This is a satisfactory outcome."

She said the city is planning a meeting Feb. 7 in Magnolia to talk about how to live with wildlife in the city. She said residents need to be reminded not to feed coyotes and to be careful around them.

"It's so, so important to teach the community how to live with wildlife so we don't get into this situation again."

Complaints about the coyote were raised by residents of the military housing that abuts the park.

The military officers' housing in Discovery Park is a remnant of Fort Lawton, a former Army base that commanded the Magnolia bluffs for more than 70 years before being converted to the city's largest park. The 26 elegant Victorian homes, with wide porches and marine views, sit on a parcel of Navy land inside the park. Most who live there are naval officers and their families.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com