A neighbor in Upper Alki says a coyote sauntered right up Halleck in front of their house, and they have the video to prove it. The clip, shared with a neighborhood news site, came with a chilling detail from the resident: they had taken their dog outside just minutes earlier. In the short footage, a cat is seen sprinting down the street before one or two coyotes appear, raising fresh worries that pets on the block could be in the crosshairs. Neighbors are now trading notes on whether anyone else has spotted coyotes in recent nights.
As reported by West Seattle Blog, the clip came from a neighbor in the Upper Alki and Halleck area who described an animal moving steadily in a straight line past the front of the house. The resident told the site they also saw two coyotes between about 10 and 11 p.m. that looked to be hunting and likely on the lookout for neighborhood cats. The post includes a brief camera clip that neighbors have been passing around to compare what they are seeing.
What wildlife officials recommend
Per the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, coyotes are a routine presence in cities but can turn into a problem if they lose their natural fear of people. WDFW tells residents to “never run away” from a coyote and to rely on humane hazing techniques, including loud noises, waving arms or spraying with a hose, to re-establish wariness. The agency also urges people to keep cats indoors, leash dogs and remove food attractants such as unsecured garbage and outdoor pet food.
How common are sightings in Seattle?
Across the city, reports show coyotes popping up in neighborhoods from the Arboretum and Volunteer Park to multiple West Seattle greenbelts, and city and state officials have put up warnings in spots where the animals have grown bolder. In some situations, there have been management actions after coyotes were repeatedly seen near people, according to local reporting. For recent park-area encounters and how officials are reacting, see coverage from Capitol Hill Seattle and reporting by KIRO.
Protecting pets and property
Simple steps go a long way: keep cats indoors, pick up fallen fruit, secure garbage cans and feed pets inside or only during daylight hours. If you encounter a coyote while walking a small dog, pick the dog up; for larger dogs, keep them close at your side and be prepared to haze any approaching animal. For more details on yard-proofing and fencing, see the state’s one-sheet on living with coyotes from WDFW.
When to call for help
Call 911 if there is an immediate threat or an attack. For non-emergency reports involving aggressive or habituated coyotes, state officials ask residents to report incidents so they can be tracked. As KIRO notes, WDFW operates an enforcement line along with online reporting options for these cases…