“[H]e may think twice before jumping fences again …”
Just last week, WILD Florida Rescue (WFR) received a call no wildlife organization ever wants to hear — a wild animal was caught in a desperate situation.
A concerned Florida homeowner had spotted a coyote dangling upside down from a fence, his foot entangled in the wire. The animal was alive and alert, but clearly in distress. With no idea how long the coyote had been hanging there, the caller knew there wasn’t much time.
WFR’s rescue teams were already out in the field helping other animals, so the dispatcher quickly contacted the local sheriff’s office for assistance. Thankfully, help arrived fast.
“Two Deputy Sheriffs were able to respond, one with extensive animal care knowledge,” WFR shared on Facebook.
Acting with urgency and care, the deputies worked to cut through the wire, carefully freeing the trapped coyote. Once released, they checked him for injuries and were relieved to find no broken bones or major wounds. Moments later, the coyote dashed off into the wild — shaken, but free.
It’s a happy ending, but not an uncommon scenario. Fences can often pose serious hazards to curious or fleeing wildlife. Just a few years ago, a fox in England found himself in a similar predicament, wedged tightly in a wooden fence. He was lucky, too — a rescue team from the Wildlife Aid Foundation stepped in and, after some much-needed care, helped him recover and return to his natural habitat.
WFR expressed deep gratitude to the Good Samaritan who made the call, and to the deputy sheriffs who stepped up when it mattered most. They hope this lucky coyote thinks twice before trying to leap over another barrier — and that his story reminds people to keep an eye out for wildlife in trouble.
“Fences can be deadly,” WFR wrote, “but with quick thinking and compassion, this one ended in freedom.”