Cactus-Covered Coyote Pup Rescued in Arizona

A tiny coyote pup who wandered into a painful encounter with a cholla cactus is now on his way to a full recovery, thanks to caring wildlife rescuers in Arizona.

The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center found the young coyote covered in hundreds of barbed spines embedded in his nose, tongue, ears, paws, face, legs, and stomach. Each spine acted like a tiny fish hook, making removal a delicate challenge.

Veterinary technician Berkeley Martineau spent two and a half hours carefully plucking out every single spine while the sedated pup rested. "They don't come out smooth like just a normal thorn," Martineau explained in video footage. "They have so much resistance before they actually come out."

The barbed spines from cholla cactuses stick aggressively to skin and are notoriously difficult to remove. Some spines had pierced straight through the pup's ear, and Martineau estimated the animal was "tremendously uncomfortable" before the rescue.

After the painstaking removal process, rescuers placed the pup in an incubator with fluids to help him recover. The little survivor began eating well almost immediately.

Sunny's Take

What makes this rescue especially heartwarming is what comes next. The center has already introduced the pup to other orphaned coyotes so he can learn natural behaviors. Rescuers are carefully limiting human contact to ensure he stays wild and ready for his future freedom.

"I'd say this guy has had a pretty rough start to life, but we're going to take good care of him," Martineau said. "Hopefully, this is his hardest obstacle that he's going to have while he's here and the rest is smooth sailing."

If all goes well, the young coyote will return to his natural habitat in just a few months. He'll join his fellow coyotes in the Arizona wilderness with a second chance at the wild life he was meant to live.