Imagine driving down a road when something small and furry catches your eye. It’s alone, vulnerable, and trembling on the side of the street. Without a second thought, you pull over, right?
For many people, especially animal lovers, rescuing a stray is second nature. That’s exactly what one family did, thinking they’d saved a lonely puppy from a dangerous situation.
They scooped it up, thinking they’d just saved the day, but what they didn’t realize was that their “puppy” wasn’t what they expected…
Once the family arrived home with the “puppy” they rescued, something didn’t feel quite right.
Its features were a little sharper and its behavior a little wilder. Confused, they decided to reach out for help. They contacted a wildlife center, hoping for some answers.
It didn’t take long for the experts to uncover the truth. It turned out, this wasn’t a puppy – it was a coyote pup! He was likely separated from his family and wandering near the road in search of them.
Thankfully, the wildlife team acted quickly. With the help of the health department, they ensured there was no risk of rabies exposure, and soon the little coyote was cleared for care.
In no time, he was placed in a cozy isolation ward where he could recover. But he wouldn’t be alone for long.
A foster sibling from a wildlife rehab center was on the way, ensuring the coyote pup had a companion. Soon enough, they were tumbling around and having fun together.
The rescued coyote pup stayed with experts, who decided to raise him and his new sibling in as natural an environment as possible. They made sure to teach them the important survival skills they would’ve learned from their parents.
Once they were vaccinated and grew stronger, they were given the chance to grow together in a large outdoor space, preparing them for their return to nature.
And boy, did they grow!
During his six-month-long rehabilitation, the coyote pup made incredible progress. Thanks to their companionship, both coyotes stayed wild and wary of humans, showing all the right behaviors and instincts needed to survive.
The two coyotes were then set free into the wild. Releasing them as a pair was a hopeful move to boost their chances of survival in the wild.
While some coyotes may eventually go their separate ways after being set free, there’s something about these two that suggests their bond might just last a lifetime.
The center made sure to share an important message alongside this rescue. Not all wild animals found alone are abandoned, and in the case of coyotes, their parents may just be out hunting.
Picking up a wild animal without knowing its situation can sometimes be more dangerous than it seems, as they explained in an interview:
“[Coyotes] are susceptible to contracting the virus that is deadly to all mammals including people. If the finders had been bitten, scratched, or had extended contact we would have been mandated to euthanize the pup and test for rabies.”
So, next time you see an animal in need, remember this story and take a moment to consider the wild possibilities because, sometimes, things aren’t quite what they seem!