Baby Coyote Survives 400+ Cactus Spines in Arizona

A baby coyote in Surprise, Arizona just got a second chance at life after what might have been the worst cactus encounter wildlife experts have ever witnessed.

The tiny pup, just four to six weeks old, was discovered covered head to tail in hundreds of Cholla cactus spines. Every inch of the little coyote bore painful barbs, from his nose and tongue to his ears and paws.

The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale took on the daunting rescue. Veterinary technician Berkeley Martineau knew immediately this case was unlike anything the team had seen before.

"We've seen it in the face and paw, but this was head to tail," Martineau said. "There were spines in the nose, mouth, tongue, tail, and back. It was everywhere."

The team lightly sedated the frightened pup and got to work. For more than two hours, they carefully removed each spine one by one, working around barbs that had pierced completely through the animal's ears.

The painstaking procedure was tedious and delicate. But the team's patience likely saved the young coyote's life.

Sunny's Take

Just one week after his ordeal, the little survivor is already bouncing back. He's eating well, gaining strength, and getting to know other orphaned pups at the rehabilitation center.

Martineau has a theory about how the accident happened. "It was probably a goofy little coyote who stumbled into the wrong cactus," he said with a smile.

The pup will spend the next couple of months recovering and learning essential survival skills at the center. When he's ready, he'll be released back into the Arizona wild, hopefully a bit wiser about which plants to avoid.

His story is a beautiful reminder that compassion and patience can turn even the prickliest situations into happy endings.