Welcome to our new Coyote resident

The Wildlife Center has acquired a new non-releasable resident!  With the permission and help of Nicole Carion,  California Department of Fish & Game Biologist in charge of rehabilitation, we were put in contact with Animal Rescue Team, Inc. in Solvang, where a coyote needed a permanent home.

He was hit by a car while still a puppy of around two months down in the San Diego area and suffered serious injury to his left eye.  Veterinarian Scott Weldy patched up his eye and provided all  necessary medical treatment.  He was then transferred to the Animal Rescue Team under the care of  Executive Director Julia Di Sieno.  They made one attempt to release him and quickly found he could not make the transition to the wild successfully.

Since Animal Rescue Team did not have housing for long term care, Nicole, who knew that Suisun Wildlife Center had proper housing available after losing our coyote of sixteen years, set the wheels in motion.  We are grateful to her for bringing about this wonderful conclusion for the coyote and the Wildlife Center. Thanks, Nicole!

Monique and her husband took a drive down the coast on January 10 and brought the coyote up north to his new home on the 11th.  It's estimated that his birthday was around March 21, 2008, so he is still young, curious and adaptable.  He's settling in nicely and is a welcome addition to the community of wild ambassadors the public can meet at the Wildlife Center.

His first human name, “Buck”, was given by his rescuers. His next name, “Popeye”, was given by his rehabilitators. And “Jack” was given to him when he arrived at his permanent home. All were names of his youth. On his first birthday, March 21, 2009, he is given his adult name: KAIU (Kii-uu).

Stop by and give Kaiu - and the other residents - a visit!

Coyote - Canis latrans

Coyotes differ from Wolves in that they prefer to hunt alone. 80% of their diet consists of rodents; but they will eat almost anything, including fruit, carrion, lizards and insects. Contrary to Western legend, research suggests that few coyotes prey on livestock. However, since the late 19th Century, millions of coyotes have been killed by trappers, hunters and ranchers. Despite more than a century of persecution, coyotes have developed from a resident of the grasslands and desert to a widely distributed animal - now more in Texas alone than in all of North America in 1492.

Their latin name: canis latrans means "barking dog", as they howl more than wolves or foxes. The Eastern race is larger than the Western.

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