Coyote Spotted at Stow Lake boathouse in Golden Gate Park

Photo by Ross Sokolovski on Unsplash

At 12:30 pm on Thursday, April 1 a coyote was spotted at the Stow Lake Boathouse in Golden Gate Park.

Park rangers immediately arrived on the scene and let passersby know that they needed to keep their distance from coyotes who may have a den behind the boathouse.

Local residents are split in their opinions of this coyote encounter. Questions around whose city this is have arisen.

“The city belongs to human beings and pets,” said one online commenter.

This group of individuals says that coyotes are wild and dangerous and need to be removed entirely. Coyotes can become aggressive and attack smaller creatures, though people are generally safe if they keep their distance.

Another party says San Franciscans and coyotes can share the city’s habitats. This group believes that San Francisco is home to many wild animals, including birds and, let’s face it, rodents. They say that the city is for everyone, including coyotes.

A wider issue

Could a wider issue be emerging here surrounding keeping dogs off-leash?

Many San Francisco parks have areas where dogs can be off-leash.

Though many residents allow their dogs off-leash in all parts of the city, including downtown.

If residents are concerned about coyote attacks on pets, perhaps it would be wise to keep dogs on-leash at all times, so that the dogs are safe.

And in the rare instance that the domesticated canine attacks a person or runs away and is involved in an accident.

Perhaps there's more to be seen here than a coyote in the park.

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