Wildlife Issues

What to Do About Wild Animals

Managing wildlife related issues falls into the jurisdiction of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. This includes animals such as deer, raccoons, coyotes, cougars, and bears. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife may be contacted at (425) 775-1311.

Beavers

Beavers are common wildlife found in Kirkland. Sometimes their activities in and near waterways can cause localized issues. If you are experiencing issues related to beaver activity you can reach out to City staff through the Our Kirkland portal for more information. Please keep in mind that both beavers and the dams/dens they build are protected under state law and require permission to manage. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (LINK: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/castor-canadensis) and King County (LINK: https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/beavers.aspx) both offer additional resources about living with beavers. 

Workshop on Living with Wildlife in Urban Settings

The City of Kirkland hosted a workshop with State Fish & Wildlife and USDA Wildlife Services on living with wildlife in urban settings. You can watch the 1 hour and 30 minute workshop.

Allowing wildlife easy access to food leads to problems for both the wildlife and residents. Following some simple guidelines to cut off food sources will help reduce or avoid confrontations:

1. Don't feed wildlife either intentionally or unintentionally
2. Keep pet food indoors and away from pet doors
3. Keep garbage cans secure and barbecue areas clean
4. Keep dogs on a leash
5. Keep pets indoors, especially at night
6. Don’t feed feral cats (on which coyotes prey)
7. In order to limit the local concentration of rodents (on which coyotes also prey), protect compost piles and don’t feed the birds
8. Report aggressive, fearless wildlife immediately

If you encounter aggressive wildlife within Kirkland, please report the incident here.