Coyote Sightings and Interactions

In light of recent coyote sightings and activity on Mercer Island, the City has been working across departments and with state and federal wildlife agencies to monitor coyote behavior and help inform the public.

Coyotes are adaptable animals that have learned to live in even the most urban of environments. Their presence on Mercer Island is not unusual, but here's what you need to know about living with these animals and how to minimize potential interactions:

If you see a coyote on the Island: please report the sighting formally by calling the Mercer Island Police non-emergency number at 425-577-5656: request to speak with a MIPD officer to report a coyote sighting. The officer will ask for basic contact information and will log your sighting in order to accurately track wildlife activity.

If you have a negative interaction with a coyote: call the Mercer Island Police non-emergency number at 425-577-5656: request to speak with a MIPD officer to report a coyote interaction or pet attack. Any attacks on people or pets should be reported as quickly as possible. The officer will take a formal police report and share this information with the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division.

If you are in immediate danger or threatened by an animal: call 911 immediately. This is an emergency and should be treated as such.

If you encounter a coyote, the Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages you to "haze" it by jingling keys, making loud noises, yelling, etc.

Why have we been hearing about coyotes on the Island lately?

In recent months, several incidents of coyote sightings and a number of pet attacks were posted on social media, and subsequently reported to the City.

The City began gathering reports of coyote sightings and interactions while communicating with two agencies responsible for wildlife in Washington State: the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services Division.

The City worked closely with the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division upon referral from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to better understand the Island’s coyote population and identify what should be done. In November of 2021, the USDA’s urban coyote expert conducted a multi-day field visit and in-person analysis, including coyote tracking, resident interviews, and review of coyote reports. The final analysis and report was presented to the public in a community meeting that month and shared across the City’s communications channels. The report concluded that coyote activity on the island was limited to just a few animals and their behavior was normal, with no indication of unusual risk to the community. The report also recommended Islanders take steps to discourage coyote interactions.

Several recent sightings and pet attacks were circulated on social media midway through January of 2022, and subsequently reported to the City. The City has since reengaged with the USDA’s urban coyote expert to assess current coyote activity, and formalized a Coyote Management Plan. The City has also expanded outreach efforts to increase public awareness of coyote behavior and the importance of working together as a community to deter coyote activity.

Please see the following sections for more information and what Islanders should know about these animals.

Should I expect to see or come in contact with a coyote now?

The expert from the USDA continues to affirm that it’s unlikely most Islanders will see a coyote. Coyotes tend to be active at night and are naturally afraid of people.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that coyote attacks near or on humans are extremely rare. However, human activity plays a part in increasing these behaviors:

Humans increase the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes by deliberately or inadvertently feeding the animals, whether by handouts or by providing access to food sources such as garbage, pet food, etc. When people provide food, coyotes quickly lose their natural fear of humans and become increasingly aggressive.

Please familiarize yourself with the facts below to help mitigate coyote interactions on the Island and learn what to do if you do see or interact with a coyote.

What part do I play in living with coyotes?

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division both stress the importance of minimizing natural predator interactions by making smart decisions in relation to our environment. The DFW warns that coyotes quickly lose their fear of people when fed by humans or when comfortable around homes due to easy food sources. In fact, the only documented attack between a coyote and a human in Washington State (which occurred in 2006) was tied to humans feeding wildlife around their homes.

Islanders should:

Avoid leaving food or garbage out around homes.
Never feed wild animals or leave pet food out, whether for bunnies, racoons, deer, or otherwise.
Learn more about preventing coyote interactions with pets (see below).
Be aware of actions to take if you do see or come in contact with a coyote (see below).

It’s important to understand how humans influence coyote activity to avoid inadvertently encouraging these interactions. Islanders can also familiarize themselves with the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s coyote resource guide to learn more.

I have pets. What should I know?

The City understands that pet owners are concerned about coyote activity on the Island.

The best way to avoid interactions between your pets and coyotes is through prevention:

Talk with your neighbors and make sure no one is feeding wildlife or leaving food sources out.
Keep your pets supervised when outdoors, keep dogs leashed when recreating or in more desolate areas.
Bring your pets in at night or when supervision isn’t possible.
Do not leave pet food out at any time.

We understand this may mean a change in behavior for some pet owners, however these standard recommendations are important for any household with pets in Western Washington. Please visit the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s coyote resource guide for more information on pet interactions and prevention tips.

If I come in contact with a coyote, what should I do?

Coyotes are naturally fearful of humans. If you encounter a coyote, the Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages you to "haze" it by jingling keys, making loud noises, yelling, etc. This will likely scare the animal off. If coyotes have repeated interactions with humans like this, they are prone to staying afraid and avoiding people moving forward.

All coyote sightings and interactions on Mercer Island should be reported using the appropriate option below:

If you have a negative interaction with a coyote: call the Mercer Island Police non-emergency number at 425-577-5656: request to speak with a MIPD officer to report a coyote interaction or pet attack. Any attacks on people or pets should be reported as quickly as possible. The officer will take a formal police report and share this information with the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division.

If you are in immediate danger or threatened by an animal: call 911 immediately. This is an emergency and should be treated as such.

Are coyotes being removed from the Island? What’s the City doing about them?

There are several laws dictating coyote management in Washington State. Capturing and relocating Coyotes is prohibited under state law, and the only option to remove animals from the Island entails euthanasia, which the responsible agencies only enact when certain patterns of behavior are evident.

It’s important to have the most accurate information to inform appropriate management actions. If you see or interact with a coyote, please report it officially through the Mercer Island Police Department using the instructions above.

The City is currently working with the USDA’s urban coyote expert to perform an updated assessment after several incidents of coyote activity and sightings were reported to the police department in late January of 2022. This assessment will help accurately understand changes to the animals behavior and inform appropriate management actions.

The City has also developed a Coyote Management Plan that outlines the City’s response to coyote activity. The draft plan was presented to the City Council and received unanimous endorsement from all councilmembers at the February 1, 2022 regular council meeting.

We will continue updating this page to provide a centralized resource for information on coyotes. City staff have also streamlined internal awareness across departments: you can contact the City’s customer service team to learn more on how to report a coyote sighting or for referrals to additional wildlife management information from the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division.

UPDATE | 2/23/2022
Over the past three weeks, the USDA’s Wildlife Services Division has been on Mercer Island responding to recent reports of unfearful and brazen coyote activity in the area. The division’s experts analyzed sighting reports and directly observed coyote behavior in various areas of the Island – during this period, they identified two coyotes displaying increased comfortability around humans and homes. The USDA experts determined that removal of these animals was needed under current guidelines, and the two coyotes were euthanized following USDA protocol.

The removal occurred last week, with no further confirmed coyote sightings reported since. At this time, the experts do not believe additional coyotes are active on the Island. Nevertheless, please remain vigilant and continue to report coyote encounters to MIPD non-emergency number: 425-577-5656 (call 911 if you are in danger).

Wildlife management is a specialized practice and the City will continue to partner with the respective agencies, including the USDA. All Islanders are encouraged to keep wildlife practices in mind: don’t leave pets unattended, don’t feed wildlife of any kind, and secure food sources around your homes. Please continue to stay updated on this page.

UPDATE | 2/2/2022
The USDA's urban coyote expert is conducting an updated assessment of coyote activity on the Island, following recent reports indicating changes in their behavior. USDA staff will be operating on the Island over the next few weeks to determine what action is appropriate - you may spot staff and USDA vehicles in various areas of the Island.

UPDATE | 2/1/2022
City Council endorsed a Coyote Management Plan drafted by City staff at the February 1 regular council meeting. The plan organizes the City's response to coyote activity in light of recent sightings and interactions on the Island.

Where should I look for updates and information?

We encourage all Islanders to continue checking this Let’s Talk page, subscribe to our email newsletter, and follow us on social media for updates and further information.

Please be aware that posts and comments on social media outlets like NextDoor have contained inaccurate facts or misinformation on this topic. It’s important that community members report any coyote sightings or interactions using the official avenues outlined above. We also encourage you to follow the City’s official NextDoor page for verified updates from the City.