Two coyotes made an unannounced cameo in Admiral early Friday, casually trotting across a front yard in the middle of the night and reminding everyone that wild predators are still very much part of Seattle’s neighborhood scene.
The brief clip, pulled from a home security system and shared around the block, shows the pair slipping across the lawn in the predawn dark. It was enough to prompt one homeowner to sound the alarm to neighbors about keeping a close eye on outdoor pets.
Video, Time and Location
Steve, the homeowner who shared the footage, said the camera picked up the two coyotes at 3:42 a.m. along 37th Ave SW between Lander and Stevens. He told neighbors the animals appeared to be hunting rabbits and urged them to keep their cats indoors. The video and his warning were first highlighted by West Seattle Blog.
What Wildlife Officials Recommend
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife says that coexisting with coyotes starts with a few basics: do not feed them, keep cats indoors, keep dogs leashed, and use loud noises or other forms of “humane hazing” if a coyote gets too close for comfort. The agency also spells out when people should report aggressive or injured animals, according to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
How to Report and Track Sightings
Researchers with Woodland Park Zoo’s Seattle Urban Carnivore Project track reports from residents to better understand how coyotes move through the city. Community members can log sightings through the project’s online tool, Carnivore Spotter, which helps scientists map activity across neighborhoods. Local coverage has noted an increase in daytime coyote encounters in recent months, according to KNKX…