When officers from the Springville Police Department in Alabama picked up the phone last week, they didn’t expect the call to lead to one of their most unusual rescues yet.
A concerned homeowner had spotted a young coyote in his yard — standing awkwardly beside a tree, clearly in distress. When he looked closer, he realized the wild animal’s back legs were trapped in a narrow fork of the tree’s trunk.
The coyote couldn’t move. And he was terrified.
When officers arrived, the frightened animal barked and struggled, not understanding that the people surrounding him were there to help. Carefully, the rescuers freed one of his legs — but the other was wedged too tightly to pull loose.
So they tried again. And again. Using quiet voices and gentle movements, the officers worked to widen the split in the tree, doing everything they could to give the coyote a chance to run free.
Finally, after a tense few moments, the trapped leg slipped loose.
Without hesitation, the coyote darted off into the safety of the woods — shaken, but unharmed.
He may never understand that the humans who approached him that day meant only kindness. But thanks to their patience and compassion, he was given a second chance to roam wild again.
