Coyote Rescued After Spending Three Days Stuck in San Francisco Yard

A juvenile female coyote found herself trapped in a San Francisco backyard last week, apparently becoming so stressed that she "shut down" after failing to escape, all while the homeowner was away on vacation. The incident occurred in a property located on a steep hill with high walls surrounding the backyard.

The homeowner, who was out of town, noticed the pacing and distressed coyote on her security camera footage and reviewed earlier recordings to determine the animal had first entered the yard on Thursday. By Sunday, the coyote had been stuck for three days.

San Francisco Animal Care & Control (SFACC) responded after the homeowner arranged for a relative to grant them access to the property. Upon entering the backyard, officers found the coyote curled up on the lower level, appearing to have shut down from stress.

The animal was lying under a staircase and remained docile as SFACC Officers Mullen and Clarke covered its head with a towel and safely placed it into a net.

After securing the coyote, the officers transported her to a nearby open space adjacent to the home. Officer Mullen described the release: "We brought the towel-covered net, placed it on the ground, and slowly opened the net.

She was very reluctant to get up, but with some encouragement she eventually popped up and trotted away into the brush, with quite the story to tell her family."

SFACC noted that the juvenile coyote may belong to a larger family unit led by a breeding pair, and reminded residents that coyotes are currently in pupping season, when they can exhibit more protective behaviors to guard recently born pups. The agency advises homeowners in areas with coyote activity to secure their yards and remain vigilant during this period.