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Coyote with pellets in her head euthanized after being rescued in Studio City
The coyote rescued from Studio City was euthanized this week, according to the Wildlife Care of Southern California.
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Wildlife Care of Southern California
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Topline:
A coyote from Studio City that made headlines for its injured appearance was euthanized this week after wildlife rescuers determined she had been shot and was suffering from a significant infection.
The backstory: Wildlife Care of Southern California captured the swollen, disfigured coyote last month after tracking sightings online for weeks. The coyote was nicknamed Wendy by some neighbors who were trying to help her, as reported by LAist’s media partner CBS LA. Rescuers believed the community had been feeding her canned cat food and hotdogs, which they said seemed to be “the only thing she could eat because of her condition.”
Why now: The coyote was euthanized after two pellets were found in her head, which rescuers said indicated she had been shot in the past. She also had an infection that destroyed her left upper jaw bone that would’ve required the 3-year-old coyote to eat only soft food.
What rescuers say: Anna Marie Reams, executive director of Wildlife Care of Southern California, told LAist the coyote wouldn’t have been able to live normally in the wild or in captivity. “After consulting together and carefully considering her long-term welfare and quality of life, we collectively determined that keeping her alive under those circumstances would not be humane,” the organization said on social media, adding that she spent her last week with them safe, comfortable and surrounded by caretakers.
How to support rescuers
Anna Marie Reams, the executive director of Wildlife Care of Southern California, told LAist their work is supported entirely by donations.
What's next: The founder of Southern California Pit Bull Rescue is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who previously shot the coyote, the organization announced Tuesday.
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Coexisting with coyotes: The most effective way to prevent conflicts with coyotes is to not feed wildlife, according to the Urban Coyote Research Project. Coyotes that are being fed in residential areas can lose their fear of people. It’s illegal to feed coyotes in the city and county of L.A., as well as Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, among others.
Listen to our podcast: Why we villainize coyotes, and more things you need to know about them
Go deeper: LA Explained: How To Live Safely With Our Coyote Neighbors
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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