Emily texted me: “sick coyote”. I hurried over. He was lying in the rain, barely moving, a young fellow, 9 months old. He didn’t notice me or any of the dog walkers nor their dogs. This would be the end of the road for him.
He had severe mange: the fur he retained was as dried out as his skin. He was emaciated: under 20 pounds. His tail looked like that of an opossum from the distance — compare this to the fluffy full tail of a healthy coyote. He had a number of deep, open wounds. I’m not sure if these came from scratching or wounds inflicted by dogs or even his own family. I’ve never seen family members attack a sick family member, rather, I’ve seen them allow the individual to remain — alone — in a protected area, and I’ve watched them visit on a regular basis, checking up on the individual.
I don’t know how long he had been there, but he obviously had gotten there on his own. It was a mulch pile which generates heat. Did he go there to warm himself up and possibly save himself, or did he know this was the end of the road, and opt for the most comfortable exit possible for himself? OR, since it was out in the open, might he have placed himself at the mercy of dogs and people who might have quickened the process?
I don’t know the answers, but while he was there, he must have realized at some point that this was the end. He was not aware of his surroundings, as attested to by his ignoring my close presence. I hurried away when he raised his head a couple of times — that’s when I took these first two photos. As he slowly put his head down, his head shivered because of the cold rain. It was a soft rain as I watched, but earlier it had come down hard. His head soon folded over onto his body with closed eyes. He twitched an ear occasionally, and then he started moving his limbs, as if running. I counted his breaths — once every 40 seconds.
During this entire time, I was in contact with two rehabbers. As I described the situation and coyote, we concluded this coyote was beyond help. Did we want to allow him a natural death out in the environment? We decided, because of the dogs, and because the coyote had already entered a delirium state — as indicated by his dream “running” behavior — that removal and euthenasia was the best choice. They aren’t allowed to euthanize in the field, so we asked if he could be sedated before being carried off, and we were told yes.
However, the crew came with no medications. But they were gentle, picked him up with a couple of towels over his body and that’s when I left. A rainbow came out, and then the drizzle continued. If he had not been picked up, I would have guarded him until he took his last breath, but that might have been several more hours.
Mange has been big in San Francisco for the last couple of years. We are told that rat poison is the cause: that ingestion of rat poison weakens immune systems and allows the mange to spread. Mange apparently is present in all canids, but is held in check by healthy immune systems. We are trying to get folks to stop the use of rodenticides in the city. Unfortunately, it’s institutions that continue to use the poison supplied to them by pest management firms. Although the sale of rodenticides has been banned in the city, these pest management firms use it profusely.
The law actually forbids rehabbers from helping mange infested coyotes. The law, created by CAFW, states that you cannot “feed” coyotes. Although there is an easy medication that can be administered in the field without interfering with a coyote — Bravecto — because of this law, rehabbers have to be careful, for their own existence, in administering this kind of medication. We have only one rehabber in California who is licenced to administer medication in the field. We are fortunate to have Good Samaritans — willing to take a chance — no different from our underground railroads or the resistance in helping families escape from the Nazis — to help out. I support these people. It’s the morally right thing to do. Unfortunately, the little fellow in this posting was not reached in time.
Jan 05, 2026 @ 22:55:25
They have such a hard life—I weep for them.
Jan 05, 2026 @ 23:07:44
I’m sobbing, not because of death. I’m sobbing for the deeply touching deep connection of your story that takes us to what I imagine was a lonely, perhaps frightening, and no doubt very painful end of life for this coyote. Yet you were with him and we are with him through your story. I’m sobbing to learn and expand. I’m sobbing for your compassion and for your willingness to guard him until his last breath that you were present with him through a transition. And I’m sobbing for the rainbow and all that it means. I’m reminded me of the saying, “If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” We are witness to this sentient coyote being’s end of life. He was not alone. You/we were the observers. He was seen. His life has some meaning. Thank you.
Jan 05, 2026 @ 23:10:13
Thank you, Cindie, for virtually being there with us. Hugs to you, as always! Warmly, Janet
Jan 06, 2026 @ 00:41:37
In his tragic song, “The Elephant” Jason Isbell has a line
— no one dies with dignity . . .
Thanks to all involved for at least attempting to provide that sad soul with a bit of it.
Jan 06, 2026 @ 02:35:44
Thanks, Dan. :(
Jan 06, 2026 @ 20:05:02
I found a young coyote that had been intentionally poisoned. When WA F&W arrived they saw the condition and the pup had shed, lost most of its fur during the agonizing, painful death it would have had. They had told me it had ingested poison.
My gosh it makes sense if they eat baited mice, rats, etc their losing fur because of mange being the secondary poisoning of bait. The pest control companies are so cunning when they advertise or say their poison will not affect wildlife if they eat a poisoned targeted rodent etc.
We thankfully have a wildlife center that takes in, you name it. I would have called them first to see about this suffering animal. The wound on his hind, wonder if they were chased off by another coyote and was bit there? The condition of it couldn’t heal itself.
My heart and mind are with them. Thanks for helping them and sharing this hard story.
Jan 06, 2026 @ 22:52:25
Thanks, Brenda. Nice to hear from you. We need to change some laws.
Jan 07, 2026 @ 07:42:18
Hi Janet, Happy new year. Yes, we do need laws changed. I show up and speak at the WA F&W meetings. They hold them every month (usually). People can sign up to speak at the meeting or write to the Board directly or attend via Online. Of course, it feels us vs. them whether the public or the Board. The Board has some decent members and then there are those that the anti-laws gravitate to because they speak the same language.
But WHY are we not protecting wildlife?! I feel they are sold out for the majority of the time. It’s frustrating. I’ve heard for decades the number of hunters has dropped; then why are we facing slaughters of bear, cougar, wolves, coyote, and on- They just won’t let them be.
It seems they always like to use (as one excuse) the “Livestock kills” when it’s a pittance.
It’s Man, for the majority, yes, women enjoy killing animals as well.
I was reading up on the atomic bomb (because life today feels as it’s in the hands of crazies) and the US is leading the charge in killing, starting coups, etc. So many countries have access to nuclear bombs. Reading the start of the proliferation and testing uranium, etc. and the development of the bomb (US was 1st and holds the most arsenal), it’s like reading about boys when we were young, but these are not boys they are grown men (supposedly!) and they tinker and toy with these devices, testing them, making them bigger, watching them blow up, developing containers to keep the uranium and plutonium within so they don’t lose any, how to make the blast bigger, it’s unending. These are grown men making bombs that will take us all off the earth, but they sound and act as little boys in the making of this deadly agent.
What we face is a crisis in men and women.
Going back to wildlife, do people know they can get involved with town halls, Board member meetings for Fish & Wildlife, show up at Board meetings to speak or write, or their State House, whatever they are comfortable doing.
I feel I have so much to write you. Doing what I can for the wildlife here. This is their home; I just want to be a good steward. We have a new pair of coyotes, about a year now. This spring they had 2-3 pups though they are not in the wetlands raising them as the last pair and their kin who were here for many years. They gladden my heart when I hear them or see them in the camera; or on a lucky moment get to see them with my own eyes.
Thanks, Janet, for ALL you do! Always great to keep up in reading your blog.
Pleasure to hear from you,