A coyote came straight for two dogs during a park walk — and one owner used a wildlife-recommended tactic that ended up saving their lives

When Seattle resident Jason Williams was walking his dog on Thanksgiving weekend, he noticed a coyote charging at two other dogs at Volunteer Park. Thinking fast, he used a tactic recommended by wildlife officials. According to the reports on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, his quick thinking saved the lives of the poor canines. He recorded the incident on his phone, and the footage has raised concerns about urban wildlife in the area.

It was in the middle of the Thanksgiving weekend when Williams took his pet to a nearby Volunteer Park in Seattle for a walk. He noticed a ferocious coyote whose behavior appeared "strange" to him, per King5. He immediately began filming as the wild animal was eyeing two other dogs who were in the park. "He was coming straight for them. He knew what he was after," he recalled. The video featured a wild coyote trying to approach the dogs on the other end. Upon realizing that he had less time to take action before the wild animal attacked the poor dogs, Williams quickly began shouting and making loud noises to chase the coyote away. This tactic has been highly recommended by wildlife officials when one encounters such dangerous situations.

Thankfully, Williams' quick thinking scared the wild animal as the coyote ran off. As per Fox 13, his worries extended far beyond this single encounter. He felt the coyote’s behavior wasn’t typical based on his past experiences with wildlife and believed it should be checked for any issues. He added that his biggest concern was preventing injuries to other dogs or even children in the area.

While luckily there were no signs of injuries reported, the incident has sparked deeper conversations about the growing risks posed by wildlife in densely populated neighborhoods. According to the Seattle Parks and Recreation, some animals there have adapted too closely to humans, especially when it comes to relying on human food sources. They have also been teaming up with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to track the activities of coyotes at Volunteer Park and the Washington Park Arboretum. In other cases, the officials emphasized the importance of capturing and euthanizing coyotes.

Reportedly, in November 2025, the wildlife teams captured and killed a coyote in Washington Park Arboretum after it attacked a leashed dog and snatched a coat that contained food from a visitor at the park. Officials have posted warning signs in both parks, urging dog owners to keep their pets leashed and advising all visitors not to feed coyotes. Officials also advise calling 911 if suspicious or threatening wildlife behavior is observed.

"Coyotes are getting more aggressive and less afraid of people," Williams remarked. According to Wiley, this statement has been proven in a 2018 study, which found that when coyote parents become habituated to human presence, they tend to raise offspring that are noticeably bolder and less fearful of humans. The researchers note that it is due to parental influence that offspring reduce their fear responses toward humans.