A series of attacks involving coyotes in the Seattle area have raised concerns among urban residents, prompting the Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) to kill two of the animals apparently involved in several incidents in the Bellevue area, and the concern is that such confrontations may continue.
TGM checked with WDFW and learned that coyotes are not considered game animals, and that it is legal to kill them in self-defense in cases where they are “threatening human safety or causing property damage on that property” without a hunting license. People who are specifically hunting coyotes, however, must possess a valid hunting license.
A string of attacks began making news in January, when KOMO News reported an attack on a 5-year-old child in the Renton area. The child was taken to a hospital for treatment after the mother chased the animal away. WDFW officers tried to kill the animal but it escaped into a local forest area.
Fox News reported an attack on a 4-year-old just inches from the front door of her home earlier this month in Bellevue. This incident led to the killing of two coyotes a few days apart.
Last October, a Seattle woman was bitten when she tried to rescue a dog from an attacking coyote. According to a report at KING News at the time, the woman suffered bites to her hand and head, but she and her dog both survived the attack.
But shooting a coyote in an urban environment might not be the best option, and might best be considered a last resort. Despite the political climate in Washington state, a lot of people own guns. Some 700,000 people are licensed to carry, but no license or permit is required to keep a gun in the home, and a lot of people do.
For the sake of discussion, if someone is forced to shoot, follow the rules of gun safety:
Be sure of the target and what is behind it; what is the “backstop” behind the animal?
Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Coyote populations have been on the rise in urban areas all over the country, and particularly in the western states. Increasing human populations have increased the odds of human-predator encounters, and coyotes are predators of opportunity. Don’t leave pet food outside, which can attract them. Don’t allow your pets to wander the neighborhood because they might not come home. Be careful with garbage.
Firearms of .22-caliber and upwards will stop coyotes. A .32 H&R Magnum, .380 ACP or .38 Special will definitely stop a coyote, if the need arises.
Be sure of your local laws before considering shooting a coyote. A person with coyote problems should call local law enforcement and/or the state fish and wildlife agency in the event of a coyote problem, especially in the event of an attack.
