On September 5, 2024, we received an urgent call about a young coyote in trouble at a new home construction site in Presque Isle, WI. This curious and resilient coyote had fallen into an unfinished basement, unable to find a way out. Distressingly, his paws were bloodied from his efforts to climb the walls—a sign of his desperate attempt to escape. Recognizing the challenge of safely rescuing him in such a large, open space, our team set up a humane live trap overnight, hoping he would venture inside. Fortunately, he did, and early the next morning, our dedicated volunteer drivers, Rich and Terri Green, were on the scene to transport him to our center.
Once safely with us, our veterinary team performed a thorough examination under anesthesia, both for his safety and our own. We found he was in relatively good health but had worn down the claws on all four paws to the sensitive quick—a painful condition given the nerve endings and blood supply exposed. Over the next eight days, he received attentive care, including pain relief and careful monitoring for any complications. As his claws healed, it was clear he was getting ready to return to the wild.
Head wildlife rehabber, Amanda Schirmer, caring for the coyote’s injured paws.
For his release, we chose a secluded natural area close to his home territory, ensuring he could find his way back to familiar grounds. We hope this little adventurer learned his lesson about avoiding open construction sites! To help prevent similar incidents, temporary fencing at construction sites with open basements can be an effective safeguard against wildlife falls. Not all animals are as fortunate as this young coyote, but with community awareness and support, we can help protect more of Wisconsin’s wild residents from harm.
You can help animals like these by donating to the Northwoods Wildlife Center. We are a 501-c3 non-profit organization that relies on donations to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife that needs our help.