“Everyone was quite surprised …”
Last week, a Cape Coral resident living near Florida’s Britannia Lake noticed something unusual that made him act without hesitation.
He had been outside with his dog when he suddenly heard a loud splash coming from the water. Believing that someone’s pet had fallen into the lake, he immediately rushed toward the shoreline and jumped in, determined to help.
As the animal swam quickly across the lake, the man shouted for help, alerting nearby neighbors. One neighbor called 911, and firefighters were soon sent to the scene.
When Cape Coral firefighters arrived, they quickly realized the rescue would not be simple. The animal kept swimming from one side of the lake to the other, forcing rescuers to drive around repeatedly in an attempt to reach him.
Luckily, a nearby resident named Denae Judd stepped forward with an idea. She had a kayak at home and offered to paddle out onto the lake to help guide the animal toward the rescuers.
Her help proved crucial. While moving across the water, Judd noticed that the animal had squeezed into a narrow space between a dock and the seawall — a spot firefighters had not been able to see from shore.
Once she pointed out where he was hiding, the rescuers moved in carefully. They worked together to gently pull the exhausted animal from the tight gap and back into the water. Then, one firefighter wearing protective gloves was finally able to grab him safely.
At first, everyone thought they had rescued a dog. But as the firefighters got a closer look, they realized the animal was actually a young coyote.
The discovery shocked everyone involved. Cape Coral’s many canals mean dogs sometimes fall into the water, but rescuers had never responded to a case like this before.
After the rescue, it was clear the coyote pup was completely worn out. He was thin, soaked and so exhausted that he barely moved once he was pulled from the lake. Because of his condition, rescuers decided not to release him right away.
Instead, staff from a local veterinary hospital helped arrange care through the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, known as CROW. The young coyote was taken in for emergency treatment and evaluation.
CROW later estimated that the pup was around 12 weeks old and severely underweight. He remains in critical care while the team monitors him and gives him the support he needs.
For now, the little coyote is resting safely with wildlife experts. Everyone involved hopes that, once he is strong enough, he will be able to return to the wild where he belongs.