Coyote dies in illegal trap in Lake Forest Park!

On December 21, 2014, a 15-year-old girl found a dead coyote in a steel-jawed leg hold trap in the near NE 187th Pl. and 47th Ave NE in Lake Forest Park (LFP). The girl was walking her dog in the woods on watershed property. The area is LFP Water District property and that agency has been notified, as has the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. At this point it isn't known who set the trap or if there might be more of them. It is a criminal offense in Washington state to use a steel-jawed, leghold trap, and penalties include up to a year in jail, a $5000 fine or both.

The poor coyote managed to pull the trap loose from the stake (but not her leg) and dragged herself down to the creek (she was probably very thirsty), which is where she died. She no doubt experienced prolonged suffering before she finally died and it certainly could have been a person, family pet, or any other wild animal who fell victim to that trap.

Please tell your neighbors and other community members about this incident so they can keep their kids and pets safe. If anyone expresses concerns or fears about coyotes, please take the time to educate them. Let them know that coyotes play an important and beneficial role in the ecosystem, that killing coyotes will not solve any perceived problems, and how they can safely coexist with coyotes.

Anyone with information about who may have set this trap (or hired someone to do so) is asked to contact:

Lisa Wathne: lisawathne@comcast.net