As reported by local media this week, coyotes are showing up in neighborhoods along the Burke-Gilman Trail and near Lake Washington. So far, there have been no injuries reported as a result of these encounters.

To prevent incidents with coyotes, RASKC and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) offer these suggestions:

• Never feed coyotes
• Don’t give coyotes access to garbage, fruit, compost, or other food sources
• Don’t leave children unattended where coyotes are frequently seen or heard
• Keep pets on a short leash on walks
• Feed pets indoors
• Prevent the buildup of dropped food under bird feeders
• Keep pets indoors, especially from dusk to dawn
• Modify the landscape around children’s play areas
• Build a coyote-proof fence
• Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen and house
• Keep livestock and small animals that live outdoors confined in secure pens
• Remove or bury dead livestock
• For a large property with livestock, consider using a guard animal

WDFW has a webpage with additional information on living near coyotes. If you spot a coyote in your neighborhood, call WDFW at 425-775-1311.