Coyote prompts howls, yawns in Magnolia

He's becoming something of a neighborhood regular, hanging out by a gas station, dropping by a school-bus lot, turning up on one street at dawn and another at dusk.

Never mind that this is the city, and he — or she — is wildlife.

A coyote who has apparently called Magnolia home for the past couple of months has human residents split into two camps, said Loree Schoonover, editor of the Magnolia Voice, a community blog.

"About half the people think it's exciting, and about half are getting kind of bored with it because it's become so common," said Schoonover, who's lately been fielding more reports of coyote sightings than she's inclined to post.

Part of the fascination, Schoonover said, is that the critter doesn't seem skittish around people. Several have gotten close enough to get good photos, and one resident worried that the coyote looked like it wanted to attack a dog — baring its teeth as it patrolled a fence line, possibly looking for an opening.

On the blog (www.magnoliavoice.com) some commenters have called the coyote gorgeous, another complained that coyote-sighting reports have become "B-O-R-I-N-G," and another posted a link to a 2008 news story from Southern California, telling about a coyote attacking small children.

So which is it: Curiosity? Commonplace occurrence? Or potential danger?

All three, says Sean Carrell, who carries the title "problem wildlife coordinator" at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"There are so many greenbelts that provide avenues for these animals to travel that it's not uncommon to see them in a highly urbanized environment," said Carrell.

In winter especially, rodents and other sources of food may be more difficult to find, prompting coyotes to wander closer to human dwellings. "We provide a lot of what they're looking for, intentionally or unintentionally ... like a big bowl of dog food left outside," Carrell said.

It's rare for coyotes to attack pets or people, but it does happen, said Carrell. He advises feeding pets inside, not letting them stray, and if a coyote is seen, making loud, threatening noises to frighten it away.

Rob McQuiston, a Magnolia resident for 36 years, watched the coyote for about 20 minutes one morning last month and said it's the first time he's seen one in the area. "I think of coyotes as being scruffy-looking," he said, "but this thing almost looked liked a well-groomed dog. Extremely well-fed."

McQuiston said the coyote stopped on seeing a large dog but didn't run away. "He did get intent on a Yorkshire terrier one lady was walking. She picked up her dog and walked the other way."

With its proximity to Discovery Park — the city's largest park — Magnolia sees its share of critters. Over the last year, it has been visited by both a cougar, which was trapped in the park, and a bear, later shot with a tranquilizer dart in Everett. Both were released in the Cascade foothills.

In 2008, when a coyote was seen boldly approaching military housing inside the park, Navy officials authorized a marksman to shoot the animal, but relented after public opposition.

"The fact is, we live near a beautiful, big park, and you're bound to have some wildlife wander around," Schoonover said. But she said the coyote now in the neighborhood "captures people's imagination because he's been around for such a long time."

In addition, the animal has been seen wandering more than a mile south and east of the park, as far away as Pier 91, Schoonover said. Many of the sightings have been early in the morning by people leaving for work.

Coyote sightings need not be reported, Carrell said, unless the animal is doing some harm, in which case people in the Seattle area should call the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 425-775-1311.

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com