At first I thought, that’s a big dog,” Barbara Barney admitted. Her surprised response mimics what other urban-dwellers have said when they’ve encountered wildlife in the city limits of Federal Way.
“But then I realized,” she said, “that’s a coyote.”
“I can’t believe there are coyotes right here in Steel Lake,” Barney said.
Yes, it’s true. These predators and scavengers, known more for living in the dry, open areas of the undeveloped west, seem to enjoy taking up residence in our greenbelts and forested parks.
The first-time encounter always surprises people who didn’t know these opportunistic feeders make a pretty good living in our city, feasting on rats, mice, rabbits, blackberries, as well as the occasional small pet.
In fact, the further one ventures out into the natural areas of Federal Way, the easier it is to hear and spot them. Just stand along South 348th Street near the West Hylebos Wetlands Park and listen to the coyotes howl back at the sirens of passing fire engines and police cars.
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife issued this statement about coyotes in urban areas: “In Washington, these intelligent and adaptable animals now manage to occupy almost every conceivable habitat type, from open ranch country to densely forested areas to downtown waterfront. Despite ever-increasing human encroachment and past efforts to eliminate coyotes, the species maintains its numbers and is increasing in some areas. The coyote’s tenacity tries some people’s patience and inspires others’ admiration.”
The photographs that Barney snapped from the Historical Society of Federal Way building near Steel Lake show just how adaptable these creatures are to our developed city. Coyote encounters have occurred all over Federal Way, from Steel Lake to Dash Point, east to the West Hylebos Wetlands Park and Brooklake blueberry farm.
These creatures pose little threat to people, the WDFW states, and will usually run away at an encounter with a human. They do, however, pose a risk to small pets, particularly unattended cats and small dogs.
That’s the thought that kept running through Barney’s head as she watched a pair of coyotes sunning themselves in the cut grass field outside her office.
Later that day, she said, Barney watched a man walk his small shih tzu through the blackberry-lined path near where the coyotes had just been.
“I thought ‘oh, don’t go in there,’” Barney said.
Barney said she alerted the city parks department about the creatures, and the city representatives seemed to already know about the resident population of Steel Lake coyotes.
“They told me, ‘Oh yeah, there’s quite a few (coyotes) in there.’” Barney said.
For more information about living with coyotes, check out the WDFW online brochure at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm.