After taking in four young coyote pups on Wednesday, the San Diego Humane Society is asking residents to leave wildlife undisturbed whenever possible.
The pups were discovered under the deck of a Pacific Beach home and brought to the Humane Society, where they were taken in by its Project Wildlife team.
The organization says that because they are now unable to release the pups to their original location and have no way of reuniting them with their parents, these coyotes will need to live in captivity until they are old enough to be released.
“Often, the absence of a parent doesn’t mean the baby has been abandoned,” noted the Humane Society in a statement. “If you find a litter of wild animals, it’s crucial to leave them undisturbed while giving the parents time to return.”
Springtime is when coyotes, like many other wild animals, have their breeding season. During that time, coyotes raise their litters near their dens and burrows; their pups begin to venture outside when they are only about four weeks old.
Despite sharing habitats with humans, coyotes typically are shy around them. However, they can be attracted by unsecured pet food or trash outdoors. They can be humanely deterred by making loud noises and securing trash, compost, or food.
More information about how to live safely with wildlife can be found here.
Clarification, 3/27/2024, 8:08 p.m: The pups will live in captivity until they are old enough to be released, not for the rest of their lives.