A man who bundled a canine into the back seat of his car after striking the animal on his commute has said he was surprised to discover it was not a tame dog – but a wild coyote.
Eli Boroditsky had been driving to his night shift at a cheese factory in Manitoba, Canada, when what appeared to be a dog sprinted across the road and into his car.
The animal landed in a ditch after the collision, prompting Mr Boroditsky to get out and look for it with a small torch.
“It is amazing how docile it was,” Mr Boroditsky said of the semi-conscious canine. “I was petting it.”
Fearing for the creature’s safety if it had been left in the open overnight he decided to leave the animal in his car.
However, on arriving to work he was duly informed the animal he had saved was no dog at all – but a feral coyote.
Speaking to Canadian broadcaster CBC, he added: “I thought it was a German shepherd or a husky… I didn’t think it was a wild animal.
“I was hesitant to leave it lying there because — thinking that it was a dog and there might be wild animals around — it might get hurt.”
After calling animal welfare groups throughout the night he finished his shift to find the animal had moved to the front seat of his car.
A Manitoba Wildlife conservation officer arrived shortly after 9am to take the young female coyote to the nearby Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre.
It had suffered a traumatic blow to the head and cuts to its legs and face.
The animal is due for release after a week or two of care.
A centre spokesperson wrote on Instagram: “The coyote seems in relatively good condition but is still under observations for the time being.
“If you do hit a coyote or other similarly large or potentially dangerous animal on the side of a road, please do not attempt to place it openly in your car.”
