Mystery creature rescued from the cold escapes PA rescue center. ‘We are dumbstruck!’
A mysterious animal that was rescued from frigid temperatures in Pennsylvaniamanaged to escaped the wildlife organization where it was being treated.
And wildlife specialists still aren’t sure if the four-legged animal is a dog or coyote.
In a Facebook post, Wildlife Works Inc. announced that the“coyote” had gone missing, leaving a tangled mess in its apparent desperate jail break, including a destroyed cage, trashed hospital area and scratches on the walls.
“Everyone one here is stunned and mortified to learn this news,” the post said. “We were so overwhelmed with an outpouring of love, interest and financial support.”
The animal fled through the window after chewing through the seal “until he was able to force the window open,” and break through the screen, the post described.
The animal had been a giant question mark to officials since its rescue on Jan. 17, McClatchy News reported. Christina Eyth, the woman who kept the animal in her basement after discovering it, originally thought it was a dog, she said in a Facebook post.
“I have it in our basement now and will be rescued no matter if it’s a cold and hurt pup or coyote!” Eyth wrote. “This animal was freezing and looking for help and skiddish and scared! “
The non-profit and foster-based rescue organization — TJ’s Rescue Hideaway — ended up saving the animal and even asked the public to help identify what it is.
“What do you think I am, dog or coyote?” the organization asked on Facebook.
According to McClatchy News, the organization did take a sample to help identify what sort of animal it is, but the results would “likely take two to four weeks.”
Wildlife Works, a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Westmoreland County, is currently looking for the animal and telling people to not try to capture him on their own if they see it.
This story was originally published January 28, 2022 at 1:01 PM with the headline "Mystery creature rescued from the cold escapes PA rescue center. ‘We are dumbstruck!’."