Rehabilitation

Gabriel the Coyote

Last Saturday, the staff and a couple of friends got together for a pre Christmas lunch. Secret Santa had made a visit to the Sanctuary and everyone contributed to a banquet of pot luck goodies. We had some good chat and a lot of great laughs. As we were winding down the telephone rang. A dear long time supporter and friend of the Sanctuary called to say that he had heard from some people in Huntsville about a coyote (they thought) that was huddled against the sliding glass door leading to their basement.

 

We arrived carrying the usual catch-up paraphernalia, a catch pole, a net, wildlife gloves and a crate; none of which was necessary. The poor coyote was so weak and wizened that we were able to pick it up like a puppy and shuffle it into the crate. We then returned to the Sanctuary where we immediately administered fluids in a warm, dry darkened facility. It became very obvious very quickly that this coyote was in very poor shape, in fact very near death. . As we worked on the coyote we saw in his beautiful tired eyes a look that we see quite often on animals like this. The look they give you is one that seems to say, ``Ì am too weak and tired to protect myself. Please do not hurt me anymore than I am hurt already. I will trust you to do the right thing for me``

 

The first night we gave him fluids several times during the night. Sunday morning we cleaned him up a bit administered more fluids and made sure he continued to stay warm and dry.

 

It is Tuesday today and he is now eating several small portions a day of soft easily digestible foods. Today he drank water by himself for the first time. He can now get to his feet though he has made no attempt to move other than to shuffle to his water and food. Given his condition upon arrival we are looking at these developments as huge leaps forward. We remain guarded but hopeful that one day in April 2011 we shall take Gabriel back to a great release site where he will burst from his crate and run into the forest to live a long healthy life in the wild. And that is our New Year's wish.

 

To all, Happy, Healthy New Year from all of us at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Update: Gabriel did in fact go free. On a warm April morning we took Gabriel to a wooded area just outside of Hunstville. We opened the crate door and he took off like a shot. This is what it is all about, this is the real deal. Another AVWS success story.