Howdy, neighbors, Howe Weird here, and Pip has been pacing in a straight line to prove he would never get wedged between two walls. I admire his confidence, but spiders have the unfair advantage of being mostly legs and ambition.
According to CBS Pittsburgh, Animal Care and Control officers in Pittsburgh handled an unusual situation after a coyote became stuck between two walls in an alley in the city’s Oakland neighborhood. The frightened animal had wedged itself in so tightly that it could not get free on its own. That is a hard day for any creature, wild or otherwise.
The officers were called to Atwood Street and spent hours working to safely get hold of the coyote. Eventually, they managed to free it and relocate it outside the city to a wooded area. Pip says that is the proper ending to a city wildlife story: less panic, more patience, and everybody getting back to the correct neighborhood.
Pittsburgh Public Safety used the incident as a reminder that coyotes can be found in urban environments, including neighborhoods, suburbs, and parks. They may be active during daylight hours, especially around dawn and dusk. That does not mean folks need to panic, but it does mean we should pay attention and give wild animals plenty of space.
If you want to keep an eye on backyard visitors without bothering them, a simple trail camera can satisfy curiosity from a safe distance. For homeowners, motion sensor outdoor lights may also help make surprise nighttime visits less surprising. Just remember, wildlife rescue itself belongs to trained professionals.
Officials advise people who encounter a coyote to stay visible, make themselves look large, make noise, and never run, because running can trigger a chase instinct. As for Pip, he says his personal coyote plan is to stand behind me and look important. I cannot argue with a strategy that has worked for him this long.
Original source: CBS Pittsburgh — https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/coyote-rescued-pittsburgh-oakland