In a tail-wagging twist of fate, a coyote trapped and mistaken for a domestic dog was saved from a San Diego flood field, officials of the San Diego Humane Society said. The sodden creature was discovered with its head hopelessly jammed in a bucket amidst the debris-strewn Tijuana River Valley. Swift action by the Humane Society's law enforcement team, accompanied by San Diego Lifeguards, led to the unlikely rescue on Dairy Mart Road after they glided across murky waters by boat to reach the floundering animal.
Once the distressed coyote was on dry land, the Bahde Wildlife Center became its haven for urgent medical care. According to the San Diego Humane Society's X post, veterinarians administered a sedative and pain medication while removing the infiltration of cactus spines from its fur. They provided fluids and captured X-rays to ensure no further injuries were overlooked. Unfortunately, caught in a frigid plight, the coyote suffered from mild hypothermia and had sustained wounds that demanded immediate attention.
A coyote who was found in a flooded field with a bucket stuck on his head is now recovering at our Ramona Wildlife Center! Our Humane Law Enforcement team was called to the flooded Tijuana River Valley in response to what appeared to be a dog floating in debris. pic.twitter.com/2ygInUm1SI
— San Diego Humane Society (@sdhumane) January 25, 2024
Moving on from the initial triage, the juvenile was then settled into the nurturing embrace of the Ramona Wildlife Center for further rehabilitation under the care of Project Wildlife, specializing in the recovery of apex predators. Nina Thompson, spokes of the Humane Society, told Patch, "He was wet, suffering from mild hypothermia, had cactus spines stuck in his fur and wounds that needed care."
As the coyote convalesces in the safety of the wildlife center and the attentive staff continue their vigilant work, there's a shared optimism resonating through their efforts "We are hopeful this juvenile coyote will be able to recover and return to the wild soon," Thompson said, outlining the goal for a successful release back into the wild.
