EVERETT, Wash. \u2014 Some Everett residents living near a thickly wooded area say that the coyote population has been growing and flowing into their neighborhoods — killing pets, attacking others, and making parents worry over their small children.<\/p>\n
Eric Light lives on Crest Lane in Everett, and the property he rents backs right up to a forested area with a ravine leading to Pigeon Creek Number 2, just south of West Mukilteo Boulevard.<\/p>\n
It’s in that area that Light says a population of coyotes — which has been an issue for years — has been growing in size, and becoming more and more comfortable coming into contact with humans and their properties.<\/p>\n
It escalated last year when Light said one of his three pet cats, Ash, was killed by a coyote overnight last year when the cat found its way outside. <\/p>\n
“He wasn’t anywhere to be found, and I heard the coyote get him. (The coyote) ended up taking him all the way, probably 200 yards over there. So that was a pretty serious thing,” Light said, explaining that a neighbor found Ash’s body in his yard the next morning.<\/p>\n
It punctuated a few close calls he had with coyotes nearly getting his cats, who sometimes manage to get through his latched door. He also noted how the same day KOMO News spoke to him, he saw a coyote biting a small dog and trying to drag it away, a few doors down; however, it failed to do so because the dog was on a leash.<\/p>\n
However, Light’s biggest concern in recent years has been his baby daughter’s safety. She just turned 2 years old this week, and joins many other young kids in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want it to have to be a kid that gets taken,” Light said, frustrated that he has not been able to get a solution to the problem.<\/p>\n
The father claimed that his landlord will not allow him to put a fence around his property, even though he has offered to pay for it and install it himself.<\/p>\n
Light also claims that both the City of Everett and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife have directed him to hire a private trapper to address the issue — a cost he cannot afford.<\/p>\n
“It’s in the thousands, it’s upwards and tens of thousands to deal with 30, 50-plus coyotes,” he said.<\/p>\n
The wooded area leads toward Hannabrook Park to the south, although it is not parkland itself. Long-time residents near Hannabrook Park, however, say they, too, are dealing with the co-mingling coyotes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen ’em in the yard where I\u2019m standing,” said Rodeny Jorgensen, while taking to KOMO News in the front yard of his home, which also butts up to the ravine.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s scary because I know what they can do,” he explained, having had a close call with his small pet dachshund, almost running into a coyote in his side yard.<\/p>\n
Jorgensen has lived in his home for more than 30 years. He said that coyotes and deer have always been present, but also echoes Light’s concerns about the coyotes’ recent growth both in number and in physical size, and how they’ve become so unbothered by humans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worry about the people on the playground because they\u2019ve gotten so comfortable,” Jorgensen said about Hannabrook Park, where he said he encountered a coyote the same morning he spoke to KOMO News, and swears that one followed him on his walk home.<\/p>\n
He said he is unsure of what should be done, if anything, to mitigate the coyote population nearby, but he would at least like to see more warnings from the city at the park for residents using it to be wary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would really like to see a really big sign in the park saying, ‘Coyotes in the Area, please be cautious,”‘ he said.<\/p>\n
KOMO News has reached out to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the Snohomish County Animal Control, and the City of Everett for their protocols on coyotes and wildlife, in addition to asking the city if they’re willing to add signage to nearby parks.<\/p>\n
By late Thursday night, KOMO News had not heard back from WDFW or Snohomish County.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the City of Everett told KOMO News they were working on a response with their parks team members about Jorgensen’s suggestion and the questions about their coyote protocol, but noted that when it comes to issues regarding wildlife, the city works with WDFW.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson echoed the recommendations of the WDFW in asking state residents to submit reports when they have witnessed a coyote attack on supervised or enclosed pets, seen a wildlife violation, or spot an injured or dangerous animal, by using the contact information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The City of Everett also pointed to their webpage that holds information on how to manage living with coyotes in your vicinity.<\/p>\n Some tips include: <\/p>\n Feeding pets indoorsKeeping pets leashed or closely supervisedPet and poultry housing should have a top, and the fencing should be buried in the groundTrim and clean landscaping near ground level to reduce hiding places for coyotes or prey<\/p>\n Other tips for “hazing,” or scaring away coyotes, include:<\/p>\n Using loud or jarring noisesThrowing small items near, but not at, the animalSpraying them with water<\/p>\n It’s recommended to switch your methods so the coyotes do not get too used to one type of hazing.<\/p>\n