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By Jordan Frey
October 10, 2023 (Ramona) — A male coyote pup who came to San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center with a broken tibia in May is now back in the wild. The coyote was released back to the wild near Palomar Mountain in northern San Diego County, along with five other coyotes who were rehabilitated by San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program.
Upon intake on May 15, 2023, Project Wildlife’s veterinary team noticed the coyote was not putting weight on his back right leg. They sedated the animal for an exam and radiographs, and discovered his tibia bone was broken at an angle. “For any hope that this little guy would ever return to the wild, we had to get creative,” said Andy Blue, campus director of San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. “Our veterinary team placed a lateral splint and conducted daily visual rechecks so the coyote’s bone could heal.”
Once healthy enough to move from a hospital ward to an outdoor enclosure, the coyote was introduced to a group of similar aged coyote pups. Project Wildlife’s Rehab Specialists monitored the coyote via video cameras morning and night, ensuring he continued to improve. While still limping slightly in June, the coyote was jumping, running and playing. Since then, he’s gotten better and stronger, displaying behaviors needed to thrive in his wild home, until he was ready for release on Oct. 9, 2023.
People from all over the county bring wildlife patients to San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program for rehabilitation and care. Each year, SDHS gives more than 10,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance. In 2020, SDHS acquired the Ramona Wildlife Center, where they specialize in caring for native apex predators and birds of prey, including hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, bears, bobcats and, under special pilot authorization, mountain lions.
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