Coyote injured in illegal trap returned to the wild

According to the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS), a coyote caught in an illegal jaw trap at an apartment building in February was released back into the wild on Friday, March 10. An adult female coyote was discovered by SDHS on February 17 while dangling from a wire fence with a jaw-trap attached to her left front leg. Coyote was taken to the SDHS Wildlife Center in Ramon, where the Project Wildlife medical team gave her pain medication, X-rays and treated her wounds. Coyote sustained soft tissue damage to the leg from the trap, but no permanent damage. Veterinarians also treated the coyote for dental damage, which was most likely caused by trying to break free from the trap: “When she first came in, we didn’t think she would survive,” Andy Blue said. campus director of the Ramona Wildlife Center. “Normally, animals caught in these horrendous traps are so severely injured that they cannot return to the wild and fend for themselves.” The coyote was released back into the wild near where she was found. The SDHS Humane Law Enforcement is investigating this as animal cruelty as jaw traps are illegal. Regina Price of the SDHS Humane Law Enforcement said of the traps, “Not only are they extremely inhumane, anyone can fall into them—children, pets, and wild animals. There is no excuse for posting them in the community.” Credit: San Diego Humane Society via Storyful