Coyote with head stuck in bucket rescued from flooded area in San Diego

SAN DIEGO — A young coyote was released back into the wild after it was rescued during historic flooding earlier in the week near San Diego, California.

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San Diego Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement personnel were notified on Monday about a dog with a bucket stuck on its head floating in debris in the flooded Tijuana River Valley, according to KNSD.

The only way to get to the animal was by boat. Humane officers were assisted by San Diego lifeguards, the news outlet reported. That is when officials discovered that the animal was not a dog, but a coyote.

The bucket was a mayonnaise jar, according to KSWB.

“Having a bucket on his head is pretty unusual,” said Atum Nelson from the San Diego Humane Society, according to the news station.

The coyote was sent to the Bahde Wildlife Center for treatment, according to People magazine. He was given a sedative and some pain medication so that the veterinary team could remove the bucket.

Once the bucket was removed, officials evaluated the coyote some more, provided fluids and took some X-rays, People reported.

“He was wet, suffering from mild hypothermia, had cactus spines stuck in his fur and wounds that needed care,” SDHS’s statement read. About a day later he was transferred to the humane society’s Ramona Wildlife Center which has a team that cares for predators, People reported.

“We are hopeful this juvenile coyote will be able to recover and return to the wild soon,” SDHS spokesperson Nina Thompson said, according to KNSD.

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