In mid-January 2022, a “mystery animal” caused quite a stir online.
The animal was picked up in Pennsylvania by a Good Samaritan who recognized that the poor creature needed some help. It was suffering from severe mange to the point that the woman who picked it up wasn’t quite sure if the animal was someone’s pet dog – or a coyote:
https://www.facebook.com/christina.pertinaci/posts/10228125932956269
Even when the animal was taken to a wildlife hospital, rescuers remained stumped at what kind of animal they could be treating. After sharing photos of the animal online, people became intrigued.
Many people guessed that the animal was a dog and some even offered to adopt it! Others suspected it was a sick coyote. The hospital staff were torn on the issue, so they submitted a DNA sample for testing.
https://www.facebook.com/mbarron.wildliferehabber/posts/464200798694461
After weeks of waiting, the results are in! The Wildlife Works in Mount Pleasant posted the update to the story on its Facebook page, confirming that their mystery animal was 100% coyote.
While treatment progressed on the animal, workers began to suspect it was a coyote they were working with, but the DNA results confirmed it.
https://www.facebook.com/mbarron.wildliferehabber/posts/477302980717576
Unfortunately, the animal escaped the rescue facility before treatment was complete so it’s back in the wild where it belongs.