Officers to hunt, kill Magnolia coyotes

State wildlife officials, Seattle Police and BNSF Railway are joining forces to try to kill at least two coyotes prowling the Magnolia neighborhood that appear increasingly more aggressive around humans.

"We determined we have a human health and safety risk," said Bill Hebner, of the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Officers are working the neighborhood in the mornings, trying to hunt down and shoot the coyotes. "If they can secure a safe shot and be 100 percent sure, they'll take it," Hebner said.

The state is also working with Seattle Police and the railroad to set out traps to try to catch the coyotes. However, Hebner said the agency will not attempt to relocate them: "We will humanely dispatch them."

The state has identified two problem coyotes. "We've had some unsettling reports of aggression," he said. "There's been lost pets, small dogs and cats, and this has caused us some concern."

A coyote followed workers last week at the Interbay Golf Center for several hours, coming within 15 feet of the three maintenance workers doing drainage work at the golf course.

"Anywhere we'd go it would be there," said Rocky Tharp, maintenance supervisor who saw the coyote. "It finally ignored us and went somewhere else on the course. It just seemed to be curious."

Later that day the coyote followed a golfer around the course, Tharp said.

A coyote last week almost killed a dog in Magnolia, grabbing it off the street and mauling it. The dog did survive.

Gus Melonas, spokesman for BNSF, said railroad workers have seen about three coyotes near its Interbay offices, which are near the golf course. One came right up to the door of the office, he said, but there have been no confrontations with employees.

Hebner said the situation with the coyotes is getting worse, that the animals are becoming emboldened, adding there have been cases in recent years where coyotes attacked humans.

In 2006, he said, a coyote bit two children in East King County in two separate attacks. Both needed medical treatment. In 2007, a coyote bit a child in Kent.

The problem is that the coyotes are finding plenty of dog, cat and bird food left outside in Magnolia, Hebner said. That or some people may be feeding them.

The coyotes are interested "in an easy meal," he said. "They lose their fear of humans and people end up getting bit and the animals end up having to be destroyed."

He said people should be careful to keep their small animals indoors and children supervised.

It's not the first time officials have wrangled with aggressive coyotes. Two years ago a coyote was repeatedly spotted roaming Discovery Park. It had snatched a cat and chased a small dog in the park.

Officials were considering shooting it, but one day it just disappeared, said Hebner. "Whatever happened to it is still a mystery," he said.

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