Officers Rescue Coyote Stuck In A Tree

It isn’t every day that a call for help leads officers to a tree — let alone a wild animal trapped in a tree. But that’s exactly what unfolded when two police officers arrived at a home to find an unlikely emergency: a coyote wedged in the split trunk of a tree.

Somehow, the animal had slipped a paw between the jagged edges of the split wood and was unable to pull free. Every attempt only seemed to tighten its predicament. By the time the officers arrived, the coyote’s energy was waning, howling from being stuck for so long.

At first, the officers tried using their hands to pry the tree apart, straining against the tough, splintered wood. But the trunk wouldn’t budge. The coyote remained stuck, frightened but still alert, watching their every move.

Watch the video below to see the tense moment when persistence paid off, and a coyote got its second chance at freedom.

💡 Did You Know?

Coyotes are among the most adaptable predators in North America. Once confined mostly to the plains and deserts, they’ve expanded their range to nearly every type of landscape — from rural farmlands to suburban neighborhoods and even city centers. This adaptability is partly due to their flexible diet: coyotes will hunt small mammals, birds, and reptiles, but they’re equally comfortable scavenging for fruit, insects, and even human food waste.

Despite their reputation as solitary animals, coyotes often live in family groups, especially when raising pups. They’re also remarkably intelligent, capable of problem-solving and even learning to avoid traps or human threats. This intelligence, however, doesn’t always prevent them from getting into trouble — as the coyote in this story demonstrated.

Encounters between coyotes and people are increasing as urban sprawl overlaps with their natural habitats. While they generally prefer to avoid humans, their curiosity (and sometimes desperation) can lead them into risky situations. Stories like this remind us of the delicate balance between human and wildlife coexistence, and how small acts of intervention — like freeing a trapped animal — can help preserve that balance.