Coyote trapped in Interbay neighborhood had 'lost its fear' of people

The coyote killed Friday on BNSF Railway property near Interbay Golf Course in Seattle was just one of dozens if not hundreds of coyotes that roam Seattle's neighborhoods, according to state wildlife officials.

The city's many greenbelts, especially Discovery Park, provide excellent cover for the animals, said Capt. Bill Hebner, with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the lead agency that deals with Seattle's coyote population.

Hebner said his office fields a dozen or more calls about coyote sightings each day, but wildlife officials won't take action unless an animal proves to be a threat to human safety.

They say that was the case with the coyote killed Friday.

"This one probably grew up around people and lost its fear," said Ken Gruver, assistant state director for the Washington Wildlife Services program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which captured the coyote. "It was probably learning to attack small pets for subsistence. That's a dangerous thing in an urban environment. The potential was that he was going to become more aggressive."

Wildlife officials say there are as many as a dozen coyotes in Magnolia, but they rarely pose a threat.

The state decided to trap this one, however, after it attacked a dog inside Discovery Park, as the owner was taking it out for a walk, agents said. The dog's owner smacked the coyote with an umbrella to drive it away.

Gruver said most of the coyotes in the city live out of sight and don't get themselves into trouble.

"That's why we're not targeting all coyotes. This particular one was demonstrating some actions we feel are of concern."

Hebner said the problem arises when people leave food outside, which attracts coyotes and emboldens them.

Karen Trieger, who lives near Seward Park, says coyotes are living in the park and she saw two on her street last summer. She also said her brother's cat was mauled by a coyote and died a few days later.

"It's a danger for people," she said, "and it's certainly a danger to cats. I am thrilled that officials are finally sitting up and realizing that the coyotes are a real danger to people and animals."

Hebner, who's aware of the Seward Park coyotes, said he recalls trapping only three coyotes in the Seattle area in the past 15 years. Two of those animals had bitten people. The third was the one trapped and killed Friday, and he said it was likely to attack a human if not captured.

William Foreyt, a professor of natural resources and science at Washington State University, also said encounters between coyotes and humans are likely to increase.

"Coyotes are becoming more urbanized. They're adapting to people. We'll see more of this in the future," Foreyt said.

The Interbay coyote was captured with a leg trap. A state initiative in 2000 banned leg-hold traps, but in situations where an animal threatens health and safety, and with a special permit, padded leg-hold traps and other snares are allowed. The USDA secured a permit before it put out the traps, Gruver said.

Officials were certain the coyote trapped and killed Friday was the one they sought. It was described as a healthy, 3- to 4-year-old male, about 45 pounds with a fluffy gray coat. Remains will be sent to a lab to be tested for disease.

"This was a most unfortunate situation," said Hebner, "but was totally unavoidable."

State and USDA officials said coyotes can't be trapped and relocated because they are territorial and learn to adapt to urban environments.

Reports had two coyotes roaming Magnolia, and Hebner believes the second one is female. He said officials planned to remove the second trap and monitor the female, hoping that with the male gone she'll revert to normal coyote behavior.

"We'll assess her behavior, and if there's no risk, we'll leave her alone," said Hebner. If the female remains aggressive, officials will set traps in the same area and try to catch and kill her, he said.

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