Coyote Pups Beaten, Drowned In Bucket At Barrington Forest Preserve

BARRINGTON, IL — Authorities want to know who brutally beat and drowned six coyote puppies at a Barrington forest preserve earlier this month, leaving a seventh pup with a shattered leg and clinging to life. The pups were found drowned in a bucket May 11 near Penny Road Pond at the Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve, and the lone survivor — a boy believed to have been about two weeks old at the time of the attack — is being cared for at Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation.

"Please help us bring to justice the person who killed this coyote puppy's six siblings and shattered this sole survivor's leg then left them all in a bucket," the wildlife center said in a plea on social media this week. Officials are asking anyone who knows who was behind the attack to contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) Tip Line at 1-877-2DNRLAW.

An IDNR official told WGN that the person who killed the coyotes — who were so young they were likely snatched from their den — could face serious charges, including illegal possession of wildlife and misdemeanor or felony animal cruelty.

"This wasn't the act of a hunter hunting an adult coyote," Flint Creek's Dawn Keller told WGN, saying whoever did this brutally beat the seven puppies.

Flint Creek is caring for the pup and officials there are uncertain whether his leg can be saved.

"This little boy has been in our care since the night of May 11th but his rehabilitation will be extensive due to the severity of his injuries," the center said on Facebook.

Image via Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation