By Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society

While cougar and bear sightings, like those in Seattle this summer, are the kind of wildlife news that grabs headlines, here in the greater Puget Sound area, the wildlife we and our pets are most likely to encounter include coyotes, raccoons and skunks. These tips can help you and your pets live side by side with these urban predators.

Coyotes are very nocturnal in their primary activities. While daylight sightings are not uncommon, Coyotes are most active at night. They may scout during the day and return during the evening to grab a pet they have seen earlier. Coyotes have habit routes and are often observed in the same places at similar times each night. If your property is part of a regular route, the danger is constant and the animals will get bolder since their familiarity with the area frees them from concerns for their own safety.

Raccoons have adapted to urban life and are commonly seen or encountered by King County residents in parks, neighborhoods or yards. As cute as they are, do not attempt to handle them.

People and pets rarely get past the skunks distinctive spray to get bitten.

Safety Tips
 

• Keep small animals inside. Take them outside on a leash or keep them inside a fence designed to keep predators out. Secure fencing should be at least 4 feet high, and buried 12 inches under the ground, bent away from the property at a 90 degree angle. This fence skirt will stop an animal from digging underneath the fence to gain entry into the property. Raccoons are good climbers, so you may want to put an electric wire around the top of the fence.

• Bring your cat inside at night. Cats are nocturnal too, which puts them on a collision course with the raccoons and coyotes. Unfortunately, the raccoon is bigger, and usually comes out the winner from any cat/raccoon encounter.

• Don't feed the wildlife. You may be doing this without realizing it.
  • Make sure lids on trash cans are tightly sealed.
  • Feed your pets inside or remove pet dishes and pet food at night.
  • Store your pet food indoors.
  • If you have a garden, make sure it is enclosed with a fence that deters wildlife from entering.

• Clean out brush and weeded areas where rodents might live. Coyotes love to prey on small rodents and know where to find them. Coyotes also use the heavy brush to stalk domestic pets.
• Make loud noises to frighten any coyotes you see. You may want to play music while you're outside with your pet so the predators stay away.
• Block off any areas of your house and garden that raccoons might find comfortable. Seal up chimneys and eliminate open holes around your house to prevent a raccoon from making a den.