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THE FUND FOR ANIMALS ©2007
This coyote, who almost died of secondary poisoning, lopes to freedom once again. |
Late one afternoon at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona, California, a mail carrier in a nearby community called to report an injured but very mobile coyote. A mobile coyote is very difficult, if not impossible to catch. Just a few moments later, a resident of the same neighborhood called to let us know that the coyote was definitely not mobile and needed help immediately. It was time to jump into action.
The coyote was found under a bush and unresponsive, so he was taken into the center. Even after the exam, we could find no reason for his listlessness. His old hip fracture and bone spur did not account for his current comatose state. Blood was drawn, a fecal exam was given, and the coyote was given intravenous fluids, just to give him the strength to keep breathing until staff could discover the reason for his condition.
The following morning, the coyote was still alive but remained unresponsive. However, the results of the blood work told the whole story. The coyote had been poisoned, most probably secondary poisoning from eating the intended victim, most likely a gopher or squirrel. Secondary poisoning occurs when another animal eats the animal who initially ingested the poison. It is much slower than primary poisoning, but potentially just as fatal and cruel.
The type of poison in this case was an anti-coagulant, which causes internal bleeding. Had the coyote not been found when he was, he would have experienced acute suffering before his eventual death.
Saved from Death by Just Minutes...
Veterinary technicians started the coyote on a regimen of vitamin K to facilitate clotting. He was also given antibiotics and intravenous fluids on a daily basis. By the third day the coyote was able to stand, although there was still blood in his urine and feces. By the fifth day he was eating, and on day seven another round of blood work showed amazing improvement! His clotting factor was back to normal. Additionally, his body temperature, which had been an alarmingly low 90 degrees, was now a normal 100.5.
On the tenth day the once comatose coyote shredded the donated fur coat, which had been wrapped around him to preserve his body temperature. He was no longer bleeding internally and had a ravenous appetite. Within a few days he was put into an outdoor enclosure to continue his road to recovery.
This coyote survived and miraculously was able to be released back into the wild. Most victims of secondary poisoning are not as lucky. The poisoning of any animal is cruel, and although these poisons are legal and readily available in lawn and garden shops across the country, they wreak havoc on native wildlife. People who use these products to eliminate rodent problems are causing sustained suffering and can inadvertently kill the very animals that would help control their rodent population. If predators such as coyotes were allowed to do their jobs, rodent populations everywhere would be dramatically reduced.
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Posted May 4, 2007
