Co-existing with coyotes in Lake Forest Park

Coyote in Grace Cole Nature Preserve
Photo by Sara Lorimer

Lake Forest Park is suitable habitat for a variety of wildlife including deer, squirrels, mountain beavers, river otters, opossum, raccoons, rats, mice, and coyotes. 

Inevitably, you will have an interaction with wildlife, including coyotes. While coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare, it is not uncommon for coyotes to attack or kill pets.

So, what can you do to prevent protect yourself and your pets? Here are some suggestions from the City’s wildlife management plan:

Never feed coyotes, directly or indirectly

• Do not feed pets outdoors or outside of secure enclosures
• Secure garbage and compost cans
• Keep the area around bird feeders clean
• Do not leave food for wildlife or feral animals

Keep your pets safe

• Keep pets on a short leash (6’) when walking
• Avoid walking pets at dawn or dusk, or at night
• Secure areas of your yard where pets roam off leash with a tall fence
• Do not allow pets outside unaccompanied at night or near dawn or dusk
• Keep a watchful eye on pets left in outdoor secure enclosures

Discourage coyote interactions

• When you spot a coyote make noise, yell, whistle, use a shaker can (can with coins in it, sealed with tape) or an air horn
• Throw sticks, small rocks, tennis balls toward coyotes but try not to injure them
• Spray them with a hose
• Use a walking stick to scare them

Here are some additional resources that may help you deter negative wildlife interactions:

• Lake Forest Park Wildlife Management Plan
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife – Nuisance Wildlife