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City of Seattle

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Mike McGinn, Mayor

NEWS ADVISORY

SUBJECT: City Asks, U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture Removes Coyote Traps Near Discovery Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
1/23/2008  5:12:00 PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dewey Potter  (206) 684-7241

City Asks, U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture Removes Coyote Traps Near Discovery Park

City officials today asked state wildlife officials to revoke a permit issued to the manager of federal property next to Discovery Park to set traps to capture a coyote. The U.S. Department of Agriculture this afternoon removed the traps and will not reset them.

Recent sightings of a coyote in and next to Discovery Park prompted a resident of the military housing area to ask the company that manages the property to get a permit to set a trap. The City does not set traps or otherwise harm wildlife on public property.

The management company requested and received a trapping permit from the USDA. Under that permit, a contractor hired by Forest City placed two "padded leg traps" on the property in the area known as the "Washington Avenue Properties."

On Tuesday, January 22, citizens began to contact the City asking about the traps. City staff, including Parks and Recreation managers and staff from the Seattle Animal Shelter, investigated.

Today City officials contacted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to express the City's concerns that the traps are near park property and there and that severe injury is possible to people or pets, and asked that they consider revoking the permit on that basis.

A Fish and Wildlife official responded that the traps have been removed and will not be reset.

For information on coyotes in urban areas, please see the Washington Fish and Wildlife web site at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation

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