Baby Coyote Rescued (And in Hands of 'Rehabilitator')

At first, the resident who found a 13-ounce coyote cub in a backyard off Van Holten Road had no idea what the little critter was.

"They put water out. They put a box out," said the township's animal control officer Sharon Wilkinson, as she cradled the two- to three-week-old cub in a blanket at the on Tuesday morning.

But the little male cub — which Wilkinson said might be confused for a baby fox — was unable to drink and crawled into the bushes to spend Sunday night into Monday morning. The animal "cried all night," she said.

Wilkinson said the resident called for assistance when it became apparent that the animal's mother was not returning, and the cub could not feed itself.

Wilkinson said coyotes are not uncommon in the Mountain Road area, and have probably been around the township since the 1980s. Sometimes, residents will spot, or even take photos, of local coyotes. "They're out there," she said.

Wilkinson said she picked up the baby coyote on Monday afternoon and brought him to the Basking Ridge Animal Hospital off South Finley Avenue.

There, veterinarian Dr. Erno Hollo checked the cub out, and provided some puppy milk for food. Wilkinson said she brought the cub home on Monday night.

By Tuesday morning, the cub weighed in at 13 ounces, and had a temporary home, as well as being provided by the animal hospital with an additional food supply. Wilkinson said she had arranged for an animal "rehabilitator" out in the Clinton area to take the young coyote. Although she said she doesn't know what it's ultimate fate will be, she said most such rescued animals are eventually returned to nature.

The baby coyote made a soft chirping sound, and seemed ready to fall asleep when removed from his carrier, and held in a blanket.

Acknowledging that a coyote is a wild animal, Wilkinson said she hadn't given the cub a name, although she admitted being a little attached to the tiny cub after keeping him safe for a night.

On Monday, the Basking Ridge Patch received an email from a reader who said she had spotted a coyote in the Liberty Corner section of the township.