Infamous Coyote Named Carl Shot Dead In San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Both feared and beloved, Carl the “unusually friendly” coyote stalked through San Francisco parks for six years before his 2021 death in the city’s Botanical Garden.

The heartbreaking decision to execute Carl was made after authorities noticed that spring that he seemed to be “shedding his inhibitions” around humans, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

According to the outlet, parents shared stories of their families’ close encounters with Carl, including one captured on video in which the coyote is seen making his way through crowds of people relaxing in Golden Gate Park, his eyes fixed on a small boy feeding ducks.

Finally able to corner Carl on July 17, 2021, federal agents with the U.S. Department of Agriculture “waited until the garden closed, then lured Carl out of his den by playing an amplified recording of coyote pups wailing in distress,” the Chronicle reports. Carl – a new father – stepped out of his den and was instantly shot and killed.

“It was heartbreaking for everyone involved,” Deb Campbell, a spokesperson for San Francisco Animal Care and Control, told the outlet. “No one wanted this to happen.”

What Can Be Done To Protect Yourself, Your Family, And The Coyotes?

According to San Francisco Animal Care and Control, “SFACC receives many inquiries about removing and relocating coyotes.” However, “relocation is not an option under CA State law.”

SFACC emphasizes that coyotes are “normally shy animals and not known to be aggressive, but they will exhibit assertive behavior when threatened or protecting pups.” In addition, urban coyotes like Carl can become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city, losing what the SFACC calls their “natural wariness” of people, sights, sounds, and smells.

Always keep a safe distance from wild animals, and avoid “feeding and befriending” them, the SFACC says. This will help keep yourself, your family, and the wildlife safe.

For more information about coyote safety and protection, visit www.SFanimalcare.org.