A coyote pup is on the long road to recovery after having her two front legs broken in a motor vehicle incident on Municipal Road 55 between Copper Cliff and Lively.
The pup was taken to the Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre on July 6, the centre’s authorized wildlife custodian, Gloria Morissette, told our sister site Sudbury.com.
The motorists found the injured coyote on the side of the road, pulled over and contacted the centre to help the critter out, she said.
“It’s really nice that there are people like that out there that are willing to help out,” Morissette said. “They reached out to us, and they were able to bring it in to us. If it hadn't been for them, that coyote wouldn’t have made it, or wouldn’t have had a chance.”
The coyote was brought in to see a veterinarian, who had x-rays done to determine the extent of the pup’s injuries, revealing the two broken legs.
They stabilized her fractures, put her on pain relief, and prepared her for transport.
The coyote was taken to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Rosseau to receive the care she needed, which included surgery at the National Wildlife Centre.
“It’s going to need regular visits, checkups, they have to remove the pins at some point, so it’s a very extensive process,” Morissette said. “It’s not something we’re not equipped to do out here.”
With the pup having lost her family, she said she hopes the pup is placed with other young coyotes for the duration of her stay so she can learn to be independent and eventually released.
At the latest update on Thursday, the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary reported that the pup’s prognosis was good, and she is expected to heal quickly before being released back into the wild.
The Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre receives coyotes on a regular basis, Morissette said, and are usually severely affected by mange.
“In my view, (animals) all have a part to play in the natural ecosystem, and they have a right to be here the same as any animal, including us,” she said.
“Coexisting is something people need to do more of. We live in Northern Ontario. We’re blessed to have a variety of wildlife, and we should be co-existing with them instead of trying to fight against them.”
Last year, the Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre took in approximately 800 animals, and Morissette said they’re currently on track to exceed that number this year.
“That happens every year, it’s more and more,” she said. “I think just people are getting to know I’m here.”
The organization does not receive government funding and is supported by donations. This year’s fourth annual Caring for Our Wildlife Online Auction brought in $23,000, which was matched by a donation from Katriina Ruotsalo and Craig Fielding of Northern Legacy Horse Farm.
Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre is a volunteer-run registered charity located in Val Caron. For more information on the organization, visit their website at turtlepondwc.com.