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Coyote watches his restrooms re-open in northwest end of Golden Gate Park

Posted on by Sarah B.


Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

I’m going to have to start calling him the coyote whisperer…

David Cruz has a knack for capturing great photos of the wildlife in Golden Gate Park, especially the coyotes that live and breed there.

Around Easter he captured pics of a big-eared coyote and in May, melted hearts with shots of coyote pups playing.

Thanks to a C.W. Nevius column that started a “coyote scare” along locals, Rec & Park closed off some Golden Gate Park trails to walkers and dogs during the pup season. In the process, a restroom on JFK Drive near Chain of Lakes was also closed in the northwest end of the park, due to its proximity to a coyote den.

That restroom was re-opened today, just in time for Labor Day weekend when the park will be getting more use.

While there, David looked down the road and saw – you guessed it – a coyote looking on, probably wondering why they were opening up their once private restrooms to the public.

Thanks to David for the update and pics!

Sarah B.


The restroom that re-opened today on JFK Drive. Photo by David Cruz – Natures Lantern

6 Comments

  3. FYI, my friend and her two small dogs were chased by a pair of growling coyotes at Lands End the other day. There may be a den there so be careful!

  4. fresh chihuahua — yummmmmm! There’s a leash law throughout GGPark except for designated dog runs. Maybe now the dog owners, so many of whom are arrogant, rude a-holes will start using leashes.

  5. I recently ran into a Richmond resident who was quite upset to see my dog off leash in a designated off-leash area simply because a coyote was nearby. So I thought I’d share this rather meaningless anecdote as a dog owner and coyote lover:

    My dog routinely encounters the coyote couple out by Land’s End, typically by the golf course and VA. My dog is often off leash when he encounters them. The coyotes are pretty smart at sizing up a dog (mine is about 100 pounds) and quickly recognize him and run off. Sometimes my dog gives very brief chase for sport (he’s not the type to physically attack anything – he’s caught up to racoons, possums and skunks (ugh!), but never touches them) . The coyotes used to make quite a show & racket the first few times they met my canine but after the umpteenth encounter, they have learned to simply throw in the cards and stalk (or run) away.

    That said, I do keep my dog away from the immediate den area by Hole 4 of the golf course.

    I’ve never looked at this as a big deal but understand how some people may look at this as irresponsible. Having had close to 50 of these coyote encounters, we’ve all (me, my dog and the coyotes) learned not to sweat it.

    If you have a small dog (“coyote lunch”) or you don’t know how your dog will react around coyotes (may get physically violent?) then I recommend certainly keeping them on a leash at all times.

    At the end of the day, I totally dig the coyotes and wish for them to thrive….but believe it’s up to them to adapt to their environment, especially in the immediate vicinity of our city.

    Thanks for the great blog and community!

  6. these GD coyotes are not natural to a man made urban park and should be removed before some poor child is attacked. I do not care at all whether some idiot with an off leash dog has their dog eaten. I have seen those GD coyotes from Lands End at the Lincoln Park Golf Course Playground within 20 yards of 2 dozen 4 year olds. The city is absolutely playing with fire and it is infuriating. Frankly I wish some urban hunter would take charge where the city is screwing around, spend a little personal initiative time hunting and removing this threat

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