Coyote rescued from illegal trap in Palm Desert
An officer with Riverside County Animal Services saved a coyote Wednesday morning after its leg became stuck in an illegal trap on the property of the Bighorn Country Club in Palm Desert.
An employee reported the incident at the country club at about 6:30 a.m.
Officer Lisa Boughamer said the coyote was pretty frantic when she arrived to the scene. “[the coyote] was jumping and ripping [his] leg side to side in an effort to escape.”
A warden with the Department of Fish & Wildlife was contacted to discuss the incident.
The coyote and the trap were moved to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms where Officer Boughamer, with the help of Officer Hector Palafox, were able to safely remove the animal from the contraption, according to the release.
The coyotes injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening, so officers contacted employees at The Living Desert, and they agreed to take in the coyote. Officer Boughamer drove the coyote to zoo for examination and potential rehabilitation work.
Experts at The Living Desert told Officer Boughamer that the coyote’s injuries did not appear to be severe and they were optimistic the animal could be released back into the wild, Boughamer said.
As far as the trap is concerned, officers said it appears to be an illegal device. The trap was saved to give to Fish & Wildlife Warden Kyle Chang for evidence.
“Body-gripping traps, or leg holds, have been illegal in California for quite some time,” Warden Chang said. Questions or further information regarding what traps are allowed and how they can be used should be directed to the state Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Officer Boughamer informed the golf club’s employees that if a trap is being used, the trapper must service the traps and the traps used must be legal. Also, the trapper must be licensed through the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Boughamer said she believed the animal must have been stuck for several hours.
“It was very sad,” she said. “I know many people are not fans of coyotes because they prey on their small pets. But when people live so close to where these animals roam, it’s their responsibility to protect their pets. Wildlife should not have to suffer in this cruel and inhumane manner.”
