UPDATE: 3:30 PM: A USDA spokesperson tells CHS that the coyote has been killed. “I understand that the ill coyote has been found and removed. No additional information is available at this time.” the brief statement reads. We were told the agent searching for the coyote was not on the Hill this afternoon but have not confirmed details of what agency was ultimately responsible for ending the hunt and killing the coyote believed to be suffering from mange. We’ll see what more we can find out and update when we learn more.
Original Report: It seems the federal hunt for a coyote showing signs of a deadly illness spotted in Volunteer Park continues after an unsuccessful night of searching for the animal.
Thursday night around 7 PM, CHS heard from a resident of the Washington Park area near 33rd and Madison that the coyote was in front of her house and looking very tired and ill. The resident called the East Precinct to report the animal. “East precinct watch commander put us in touch with the USDA officer looking for the sick coyote. They are coming over here now to look for him. It’s so sad, he’s very sick,” she wrote.
The contact information for the East Precinct watch commander is the best clearing space for information about the coyote that we currently have to give out. You can reach the commander at (206) 684-4318. Here is the number for the US Department of Agriculture biologist hunting the coyote — 425-954-6766. You’ll be asked to leave a voicemail with time and location information. He’s successfully tracked and killed coyotes that were deemed sick or danger to humans around the region, according to various media reports.
Sightings have also come into CHS via comments and emails but they’re difficult to verify — all that we’ve checked out have turned up coyote-less.
Seattle Parks tells us that the search has turned up a healthy family of coyotes living near Volunteer Park — a good sign for the local ecology. “It’s great that a family of coyotes is making a good living in the area. They keep the rat and rabbit populations in check,” a Parks spokesperson tells CHS.
The US Department of Agriculture is in charge of tracking the sick coyote down and killing it. The animal shows signs of mange which is causing its fur to fall out and causing weakness. The coyote could be aggressive toward humans and pets — especially given its weakened state — so use caution if you encounter it.
Even in its weakened state, this coyote covers some ground with sightings reported between Volunteer Park and the Arboretum from day to day and hour to hour.
Despite many daytime sightings, Parks tells us the USDA hunter is planned to work the area after 10 PM.
UPDATE: A Capitol Hill resident shares this picture taken this morning in the alley between 17th and 18th around the 700 block.
(Image: CHS with permission)
spotted eastbound on Prospect at 21st at 9:00am
Depending on what type of illness with which this coyote is afflicted, why is killing him or her the only solution offered? Why can’t it be trapped humanely, evaluated, and potentially treated and released? USDA, your callousness, laziness, and cluelessness never fail to disappoint.
This guy was walking South down 15th Ave E between Prospect and Highland at 8:30 AM this morning, turned E on Prospect and continued down. I couldn’t follow, called 911 and Animal Control, 911 didn’t care, Animal Control wasn’t open. He/she doesn’t look good, but didn’t seem aggressive (lots of people walking around at that time and he/she seemed to avoid them.
Thanks for putting up the number..
Its on 23rd just south of aloha right now. Across from karate school.
PAWS in Lynnwood has an excellent wildlife rehabilitation center. Why can’t t they capture him and bring him there?
You should probably call wildlife control or the police?
The Coyote was at 21st & Prospect this morning about 9am headed east. It was moving very slowly and mostly standing around on the sidewalk not looking well.
that “they” feel the need to kill the animal just because it looks sick.
Why is the federal government involved in tracking a coyote on city and private property? Isn’t that a job for local government?
who gives a crap about this mangy thing
Wow, talk about calloused! You’re in the minority on this one, and a very tiny minority at that.
frankly YOU should care. Until tests come back on it, you have no way of knowing if Mange was its only problem. It could have had rabies or any other disease mammals get. Would YOU like to be attacked by a coyote?
YES, unfortunately, it was necessary. You have no way of knowing what other diseases it had. It wasn’t healthy, so relocation wasn’t really an option like a bear or cougar.
I’m rather interested to hear there may be a family of coyotes living on the hill. That could become a problem.
Come now, there’s really nothing special about a diseased wild aggressive coyote that warrants our sympathy, if you want him so bad, let him hole up in your garage and nurse him back to health. Coyotes, and other urban wildlife were not here first, their ancestors were. They simply don’t belong in the city, they are diseased, opportunistic scavengers and should be removed. Living in the city means we give up certain rights in exchange for certain expectations, one of these is we don’t need to worry about being bitten by wild diseased animals, since we can’t shoot them, the government does. Well done tracker. Now somebody do something about the raccoons that eat my figs and I’ll be a happy man.
A Neighbor: Please cite at least one example of a human in Seattle bitten by a coyote. I doubt very much you can do so, and therefore your argument for “removing” them is not very persuasive. Wildlife experts seem to agree that coyotes are not a threat to humans.
Would you also like all the birds “removed” because they get noisy at times?
troll detected
http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4185226.html
They do bite, sorry to say. Although Bellevue coyotes may be different, since they’re in the burbs, right?
OK, maybe it does happen, but your link is from 2006, and the wildlife official was quoted as saying that it was the only example he was aware of during the preceding 12 years, and that coyote bites are “rare.” Do you really think this argues for “removing” all the coyotes in our city?
Coyotes do not belong in the city period. What happens when a kid stumbles on a den in volunteer park? City parks are for people, not for urban wildlife adventures. Where do you draw the line? Urban bear ok? Urban saber tooth tiger? You want to live in the woods like a Disney film go for it, I’ll stay here thank you, and if I see an animal I deem dangerous, I’m gonna expect the local government does something about it.
Well, you’re out of luck then, because no government agency is going to remove healthy coyotes from our urban environment…thank goodness.
Obviously, bears and tigers are another story. All wildlife does not present the same degree of danger to humans.