Normandy Park City Scene Fall 2026 24 Harvesting Harmony means appreciating the beauty around us and learning how to share our neighborhoods with the wildlife that calls them home. From songbirds and bouncy rabbits to Pacific Northwest coyotes, owls and bats, our natural surroundings are part of what makes Normandy Park special. The City has heard reports of coyote sightings and wants to share a few simple ways residents can help our wild neighbors (and ourselves) live and thrive together. A little awareness can go a long way toward creating a community where people and wildlife can share the same space peacefully. Wild Neighbors, Shared Spaces This fall, let’s keep Harvesting Harmony by appreciating the wildlife around us, respecting their space, and helping keep Normandy Park safe, healthy, and wild. Three Ways to Welcome Bats Bats are important members of our local ecosystem and excellent natural pest control, eating large numbers of insects each night. Help these nighttime neighbors thrive by: • Protect their homes. Leave mature trees and natural areas undisturbed, when possible, as they can provide important roosting habitat. • Keep it chemical-free. Avoid unnecessary pesticides that can reduce the insects bats depend on for food. • Let them do their thing. If bats are flying around your yard at dusk, enjoy the show from a distance. They’re likely busy doing some helpful insect control! Three Ways to Be Owl-Friendly Owls are another wonderful part of our local ecosystem. You can help keep these nighttime neighbors safe by: • Keep the night dark. Limit unnecessary outdoor lighting, especially near trees and natural areas where owls hunt and nest. • Skip the rodent poison. Rodenticides can harm owls that prey on poisoned rodents. Consider non-toxic rodent- control methods instead. • Give them space. If you spot an owl, enjoy the moment from a distance. In the spring, avoid disturbing nesting sites or repeatedly approaching roosting birds. Five Tips for Coexisting with Coyotes Coyotes are adaptable, intelligent animals that can thrive in natural areas and neighborhoods alike. Seeing one doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem; it’s often simply a wild neighbor passing through. • Keep your distance. Never approach, follow or try to feed a coyote. • Keep pets close. Walk dogs on a leash and supervise pets when they’re outside. • Secure attractants. Secure or pick up garbage, pet food, birdseed and fallen fruit. • Make yourself big. If a coyote approaches, stay calm, make yourself appear larger and make loud noises to encourage it to move along. • Give wildlife a way out. Don’t corner or block a coyote. Allow plenty of space for it to retreat.
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