Coyote Encounters Spike at Mount Pisgah, Authorities Say Feeding Is to Blame

Lane County officials forced to euthanize aggressive coyotes as public safety concerns grow

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:49am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Wildlife officials in Lane County, Oregon have reported a dramatic increase in coyote encounters at Mount Pisgah park since the beginning of 2026, with over 30 sightings reported just in January. Authorities say the surge is being driven by people feeding the coyotes, causing the animals to become too comfortable around humans and approach people, dogs, and vehicles. As a result, Lane County Parks has had to euthanize one coyote and may have to put down several more to protect public safety.

Why it matters

Coyote encounters in urban and suburban areas have been on the rise across the country, as the animals adapt to human environments and take advantage of readily available food sources. In this case, the aggressive coyote behavior at Mount Pisgah is directly linked to people feeding the animals, causing them to lose their natural fear of humans. This raises serious public safety concerns, as coyotes that are unafraid of people are more likely to attack pets or even approach children and adults.

The details

Lane County Parks, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), determined that people have been bringing pet food to Mount Pisgah and feeding the coyotes, which is against state law. This has caused the coyotes to become too comfortable around humans, with a growing pattern of the animals approaching people, dogs, and vehicles. As a result, Lane County has had to euthanize one coyote and may have to put down several more to protect public safety.

  • Since the beginning of 2026, there have been over 30 coyote sightings reported at Mount Pisgah just in January.
  • Lane County Parks recently made the decision to euthanize one coyote due to the aggressive behavior.

The players

Lane County Parks

The county parks department that oversees Mount Pisgah and is working with ODFW to address the coyote issue.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)

The state wildlife agency partnering with Lane County Parks to investigate and respond to the coyote encounters at Mount Pisgah.

Devon Ashbridge

The Lane County public information officer who spoke about the difficult decision to euthanize coyotes that have become too comfortable around humans.

Beth Quillan

An ODFW spokesperson who discussed how removing individual coyotes does not address the root cause of people feeding the animals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The coyotes that are at issue here have become so comfortable with people that they aren't eligible or likely to be scared off by hazing. They're likely to simply just return right to the same problematic and dangerous activities once that stops.”

— Devon Ashbridge, Lane County public information officer

“Removing one coyote doesn't necessarily fix the problem of the root cause, you know, that food provided by people is not also addressed. In this situation, public safety is our number one, and a targeted removal can be helpful in taking the risk away for specific animals.”

— Beth Quillan, ODFW spokesperson

What’s next

Lane County and ODFW say they will continue to monitor the situation at Mount Pisgah and may have to euthanize additional coyotes that have become too comfortable around humans. They are also urging visitors to keep their pets leashed and avoid the park at dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active. Authorities are asking the public to report anyone they see feeding the coyotes to Lane County Parks and the Eugene Police Department.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing challenge of managing coyote populations in urban and suburban areas, where the animals are increasingly coming into conflict with humans. While coyotes are an important part of the ecosystem, feeding them can lead to dangerous situations where the animals lose their natural fear of people. Educating the public about the risks of feeding wildlife and enforcing laws against it is crucial to protecting public safety and the wellbeing of the coyotes themselves.