I recently learned about the Seattle Coyote Study and the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project in a West Seattle Blog post entitled “Where have all the coyotes gone? If you’ve seen/heard any in West Seattle, researcher needs your help”. The post mentioned that Sam Kreling, a UW Ph.D. student, who is leading the Seattle Coyote Study was asking for input from the community.
The following is my response to Sam:
Our property is adjacent to the Salmon Creek Ravine. There were several packs of coyotes down there 8 years ago and we heard them howl often. You could especially depend upon their serenade whenever a siren was heard nearby. If you’re wondering what happened to them, they were shot and poisoned. Many nights I laid awake listening to them cry after hearing gun shots. The cry would turn into a whimper and then silence. The last time I saw a coyote it was lying on our deck, severely emaciated. It had likely been poisoned and died in our yard a few hours later.
We used to walk on the trails in the Salmon Creek Ravine and sometimes spotted coyotes but they never bothered us. Occasionally we would see them in our yard. During the period when the coyotes were being shot and poisoned, which took place over a period of more than a year, I spoke with one of the city officials in Burien and was met with a look of “Why would you ever be concerned about that,” and no action.
I walk in Lincoln Park often and have noticed the overpopulation of rabbits. We also now have an overpopulation of rodents and possums in the Salmon Creek Ravine area. I’ve also noticed that the raccoon population is down and foxes are non-existent — likely due to poisoning or shooting which I still hear once or twice a week at night. (In fact, I heard 7 shots last night at 2:50AM.)
We used to walk on the trails in the Salmon Creek Ravine and sometimes spotted coyotes but they never bothered us. Occasionally we would see them in our yard. During the period when the coyotes were being shot and poisoned, which took place over a period of more than a year, I spoke with one of the city officials in Burien and was met with a look of “Why would you ever be concerned about that,” and no action.
I walk in Lincoln Park often and have noticed the overpopulation of rabbits. We also now have an overpopulation of rodents and possums in the Salmon Creek Ravine area. I’ve also noticed that the raccoon population is down and foxes are non-existent — likely due to poisoning or shooting which I still hear once or twice a week at night. (In fact, I heard 7 shots last night at 2:50AM.)
Jeanne Irvine
Oh my, so sad. :'(