For some reason, I am unable to embed the original NYT article by Heather Knight with excellent photos by Loren Elliot, but am able to embed this version, which reproduces the text of the article but not the photos. Coyotes have been a source of controversy for a long time among residents of San Francisco: “we have passionate defenders and furious critics” as reported by SFiST.
Please note: too much space in this article was devoted to the very few preventable negative incidents (specifically the Crissy Field incident and then hunting for that coyote to kill it) and fear that a few dog-owners harbor instead of how coexistence is working, how people are coming to understand them and appreciate them, something about their family structure and family life, and some basic guidelines. Hopefully an article along these lines will be coming out at some point soon!
The article AND Loren’s photos can be seen in the Seattle Times: [https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/the-coyotes-of-san-francisco/]
May 20, 2025 @ 16:53:11
SF Rec and Parks and other agencies in our city are responsible for the destruction of wildlife habitat that displaces and disrupts coyote and other wildlife such as raccoons and owls. Are the destruction of trees in McLaren Park and other areas in SF a plan to destroy habitat; to unwild all of the city so they will have no places to live? It seems every thicket, every blackberry bramble, every dense vegetation is being eradicated under the premise of eradicating “non native”, “invasive” or diseased or unsafe trees. I believe if more habitat is allowed for the coyotes they will live more in harmony with people in San Francisco. They are an important part of the pyramid of life in the city. They are part of the natural native ecosystem here and need to be celebrated, protected and allowed to live in harmony with the rest of the population here. Remember they help eradicate the ever-growing problem of rats in our city!
May 20, 2025 @ 17:40:05
Hi Lance — Thanks for your comment. Yes, I’ve been seeing this habitat destruction here for years: pave over paradise and put in a parking lot. Tearing down our thickets and forests in favor of sparse native shrubs, based on an idea someone had in the late 1900s — invasion biology — is incomprehensible. Yes, I agree that the animals need the dense thickets and forests where they can retreat to and where humans and dogs don’t go. WHY do humans have to put their footprint on every inch of the earth. Anyway, in solidarity. Janet
May 21, 2025 @ 03:44:15
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your reply and thank you so very much for helping make people aware of the nature around us and the benefits and beauty of coyotes and how we can coexist with them.
May 21, 2025 @ 04:28:54
Thank YOU, Lance!