Coyote Found In Middle School Bathroom; Returned To RivCo Wild

JURUPA VALLEY, CA — Staff at a Jurupa Valley middle school and a wayward young coyote got a scare Monday morning when the animal became trapped in a bathroom stall. The wild animal's journey — from hiding behind a toilet to a soaring leap for freedom — was captured on video by an animal control officer who's rescued many a critter.

It all started before 9 a.m. Monday when staff at Mission Middle School discovered the coyote walking the grounds before classes began.

Seeing coyotes near the school happens from time to time, according to a school spokesperson. Still, this was the closest encounter they’d ever had with the wily creature. As school employees approached, the animal ran into an open bathroom, according to a statement from the Jurupa Unified School District.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services spokesman John Welsh shared a video of animal control officer Will Luna’s experience.

In the video, Luna is startled to see the full-grown coyote.

“Oh, that’s not a pup,” Luna said. “That’s a full-grown coyote!”

The frightened coyote, believed to be about 9 months old, had backed into the corner in a crouch behind a toilet, according to Welsh.

Luna snared it and guided the animal into the truck’s transport crate. At some point during the exchange, the coyote earned the nickname Wile E. after the famed Warner Bros. cartoon character.

Luna took the coyote out to a rural open space and freed it. Wile E. quickly ran off, out of sight.

“It’s getting more difficult to relocate them with all the development and new homes,” Luna said before letting him go. “See you later, man. Bon voyage.”

Department of Animal Services Director Erin Gettis shed some light on the coyote contact, as well as the positive outcome for the school and the wild coyote.

"We are pleased that this incident was smooth and all the children were OK, and we were able to get the coyote back to its more natural habitat," Gettis said. "There are dedicated wildlife corridors and other open spaces, such as green belts, and these are areas where animals live. Due to population adjacent to these natural spaces, we are going to have encounters."