Coyotes are a rare sight in Seattle. Rare enough that when someone sees one, an alert is often issued on social media websites warning neighbors that a coyote is in the area and to be watchful of their pets. Sometimes these appearances are confirmed with dark or distant photos of the wild dogs wandering the city streets.

Over the years, efforts have been made to mark the passage of coyotes through Seattle. The King County government’s web page devoted to the animals links a now-defunct site which used to map coyote sightings in the area.  Presumably the webmaster realized what a tiring and futile effort they were putting forth trying to track these animals.

Known for being clever, coyotes are also very common. While spotting one is an interesting and notable moment in most people’s day it’s not particularly noteworthy in a normal day in the city. Coyotes tend to be active during dawn, dusk, and dark.  However, this is not a rule and there is no particular reason to be concerned about coyotes being active during the day, either.

Coyotes are very, very good at living with humans.  They have adapted to living nearly invisibly among us and can feed on rodents, garbage, and gardens. While they won’t pass up an easy meal, they are not known for hunting pets specifically. Coyotes seen in public areas are usually no more or less aggressive than those you don’t see—which is the majority of coyotes.

So what does this mean for you and your pet? Of course it is important to be aware of the wild-life in your area. Coyotes, raccoons, possums, and rats are all known to interact with our pets. Any one of them may attack or wound our pets, though this is rarely their preference. However, more important is to be aware that whether these animals have been seen and reported in your neighborhood, they are always nearby. Indoor-outdoor animals will always be at higher risk to these predators.