Richmond District resident Jae Chang was driving through Golden Gate Park this week and came upon some wildlife: a large coyote.
“Amazing how casually it was just walking along southeast of the Polo Fields. It had no fear of the cars zooming along the road,” Chang said.
Chang said the coyote looked about the size of a large, 75 pound dog and didn’t seem at all fazed by her paparazzi action.
“I was too amazed to take a better photo and wanted to leave him alone to continue his nature walk.”
Sarah B.
Photo 1 full size
Photo 2 full size
What a handsome fellow! I hope he stays out of traffic.
I hope the “we must save the children/feral cats/toy dogs” alarmists don’t spell doom for this guy/gal.
Awww, yay!! What a beautiful creature. I have yet to see one in person – he’s/she’s bigger than I imagined. And so wolf-like!
Coyotes are beautiful animals, but their presence in populated areas is a public safety risk that shouldn’t be easily dismissed. From what I understand, there’s a difference of opinion among wildlife experts about the potential public safety risk. Experts say the more comfortable they get around humans, the greater likelihood of an attack, hence the admonition that we not feed wild animals. “A fed coyote is a dead coyote,” is a common adage among wildlife experts.
Maulings are becoming increasingly common as we encroach on each others turf, and encounters can be deadly.
According to this LA Times blog item, a 19-year-old Canadian girl was mauled to death by two coyotes in 2009:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/10/musician-taylor-mitchell-dies.html
And this 2008 AP story reports an upswing in coyote attacks:
http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080511-1042-ca-coyoteattacks.html
Any wild animal can turn and attack when feeling threatened or territorial. I think it’s odd when folks malign animals for, well, being animals.
People need to exercise caution and respect. Don’t get too close, keep your eyes open and stay aware of your surroundings, keep your dog on a leash when appropriate, etc. And then sometimes you do all these things, and something horrible happens. But the likelihood of being hit by a Muni Bus or mugged is much greater that being attacked by a coyote/shark/etc.
Dear everyone:
Please don’t kill the coyote.
Thanks!
I agree with Robin G. that the odds of getting mauled by a coyote are extraordinarily remote, especially compared to the other risk factors you mention (honestly, in the Richmond, I think we’re all more likely to get mauled by raccoons), but being aware of public safety risks wild animals pose in urban setting isn’t maligning animals. Animals attack when threatened or territorial, but they also attack when they’re hungry.It’s not the same thing as attacking over a drug deal gone bad, but the consequences can be just as ugly.
Maybe same one I saw on Thursday 3/10 about 4PM. I was walking on the paved path off JFK by the golf course going to the beach. The coyote was approaching me and when I saw it I said “Hi Wiley!” It got about 20 feet away and then casually left the path and crossed the golf course. Several golfers stopped play to watch it also. It was not in a hurry and seemed unafraid. Beautiful animal, I felt lucky to see it.
BigG is correct, imo. Coyotes are beautiful animals but if in doubt, we need to error on the side of protecting children and dogs in GGP. A few months back my dog was briefly stalked by coyote that appeared quickly from the bushes in western GGP. I was standing about 20 feet away. (Yes…I know that parks rules say that dogs should be on leash.)
Fortunately, my dog stood her ground and scared the lone coyote off. However, I couldn’t help but think that if my two young boys had been sitting on the grass rather than my dog… there might have been a very different outcome.
I agree with BigG too, in that we need to be cautious and wild animals in public areas can be a danger. I have just heard a lot of alarmist reporting concerning all kinds of animals, from sharks to coyotes to cougars. These animals can be dangerous, of course, but I feel we need to find a way to coexist with them rather than kill them when there’s a problem. A woman was mauled and eventually killed by her neighbors “domesticated” dogs a few years back – what a horrific story – but, it doesn’t mean all dogs are dangerous. Most animals don’t attack for the heck of it, since it puts them in a precarious position as well. But, some do attack for no reason, just like people. Gotta be careful.
When it comes to coyotes and safety in GG Park, keeping dogs on leashes and keeping a safe distance is a good start.
I agree that dogs should generally be kept on leashes in GGP but what about young kids? Parents should not have to hover over their young kids in GGP due to concerns about wild animals. While the likelihood of a coyote attack on a child is remote, the consequences of such an attack can’t be lightly dismissed. Based upon my prior brush with a GGP coyote, I don’t take my eyes off my young kids when we go to GGP; especially if areas with low-lying bushes. I hope I am wrong but I think there will be an incident at some point that could have been avoided if the city favored the interests of young children and dogs rather than coyotes. Admittedly though..it is a tough issue,.. and I realize that I am probably in the minority opinion.
Thanks for the photo! I wonder if it is the same one I saw running full speed through the botanical gardens last week. Pretty great sight to see. But then some teenage girls started taunting him with barking and howling sounds… I wonder why it doesn’t stay in the less populated west side of the park.
I saw this guy (or relative) twice last week during an evening run. Once by the bison and the next by the De Young. Definitely got a squeal out of me when I came up on him!