A coyote known and cared for by residents across Studio City has died after veterinarians found that a severe infection had caused extensive damage to her jaw and that two pellets were lodged in her head.
The coyote, known locally as Wendy, had spent about a year roaming the community with a large swelling on the left side of her face. Residents had become familiar with her and had followed efforts to get her medical attention.
Wildlife Care of Southern California captured Wendy after weeks of tracking her movements and brought her in for veterinary evaluation. At first, rescuers hoped treatment might give the roughly 3-year-old coyote a chance to recover and eventually return to the wild.
That hope changed after diagnostic imaging revealed the extent of her injuries.
Veterinarians found two pellets lodged in Wendy’s head, indicating that she had been shot at some point. The resulting infection had severely damaged and destroyed part of the upper jaw on the left side of her face.
The damage was too extensive for surgery or other treatment to restore normal function. Veterinarians determined that even if Wendy survived, she would have needed soft food for the rest of her life and would not have been able to return to the wild.
After considering her long-term health and quality of life, the veterinary and wildlife-care teams decided euthanasia was the most humane option.
Wendy had received antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication and food she could manage during the time she was in care. The wildlife organization said she remained comfortable and safe during her final days.
Her condition had been visible to Studio City residents for months. Concern grew during the summer as more people reported seeing her around the neighborhood. Wildlife Care of Southern California began tracking sightings in July, with residents providing information about where and when she was being seen.
The effort to locate her eventually led to her capture, allowing veterinarians to determine what had been happening beneath the large facial swelling that had become one of her most recognizable features.
The discovery of the pellets provided an explanation for at least part of the severe damage, although the exact circumstances surrounding when and how Wendy was shot remain unclear.
The organization has thanked the residents and animal rescue groups who helped track Wendy, supported her capture and contributed toward her medical care.
For many Studio City residents, Wendy had become more than a coyote they occasionally saw in the neighborhood. Her long struggle with a serious facial injury had drawn widespread concern and prompted people to work together to get her help.
Wildlife Care of Southern California said it plans to release photographs from Wendy’s veterinary examination to show the severity of the injuries found during her evaluation.
Wendy’s story ended with the difficult decision to end her suffering, but the effort to help her also brought attention to the challenges injured wildlife can face while living in an urban environment.
