A coyote that became "embedded" in a car grille after it was hit on an Alberta highway has been released back into the wild.
Georgie Knox was travelling to work when the coyote darted in front of her car.
"I heard a crunch and believed I ran over and killed it," Ms Knox wrote in a Facebook post.
She drove on for about 20 to 25 minutes before she stopped at a traffic light and a construction worker notified her the animal was stuck in the car.
"When I got out to look, this poor little guy was looking up and blinking at me," she recalled.
Miraculously the coyote only sustained minimal injuries, surviving more than 30 kilometres riding from Airdrie to Calgary at highway speeds.
After being freed by Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement and Calgary Police, the animal was given the all-clear and released in Kananaskis.
"The coyote also showed no signs of being habituated to humans," the department wrote in a Facebook post.
"With no concerns detected, the coyote was released back into the same approximate geographic area it came from but further west, away from traffic hazards."
The department said it was the first time the officer involved had seen such a case.
"Clearly mother nature has other plans for this special little guy!" Ms Knox said.
