Tacoma sees regular coyote activity along greenbelts and parks, and the city coordinates with Washington Fish and Wildlife on hazing, education, and pet safety rather than routine lethal removal of healthy animals.
Coyotes use Tacoma's gulches, ravines, and large parks like Point Defiance as travel corridors, and city policy treats them as established urban wildlife. Residents are urged to haze coyotes by yelling, waving arms, or making loud noises so the animals stay wary of humans. Pets should be kept indoors at night, on leash on trails, and never fed outside. Lethal removal is reserved for animals that show aggressive behavior toward people, are injured, or are clearly habituated to human food. Tacoma Animal Control, Washington Fish and Wildlife, and licensed wildlife control operators share enforcement and response roles.
Feeding coyotes, leaving pet food outdoors, harassing wildlife with traps without a license, or shooting at animals inside city limits can result in fines and prosecution under city and state wildlife laws.
Tacoma, WA
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See how Tacoma's coyote management rules stack up against other locations.
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