The Internet Has Fallen In Love With A “Deformed” Coyote, And Everyone Is Desperate To Find Her

A coyote with a large growth covering part of her face has become the latest unlikely animal celebrity on the internet. Known as Wendy by people in Studio City, California, and Sunshine by the East Valley Animal Shelter, she has reportedly been living with the growth for more than a year. Now, residents and wildlife rescuers are trying to find her so she can get medical attention.

The growth stretches from around Wendy’s left eye toward the end of her snout, making it difficult to miss in photos and videos. Wildlife Care of Southern California has spent about four weeks searching for her and hopes to safely capture her so a veterinarian can examine her. The organization does not yet know exactly what the mass is.

There is at least one encouraging sign. Wildlife Care of Southern California says Wendy has a good body condition and remains active, although her prognosis cannot be determined until veterinarians examine her and take X-rays. Those tests should help determine what is causing the growth and how extensive it is.

Wendy Keeps Going

There is something strange about seeing Wendy walking around a Los Angeles neighborhood with such an obvious growth. Despite the condition, she has continued moving through the area and has apparently become a familiar sight to some residents.

Wildlife Care of Southern California says residents have spotted Wendy standing in the street and approaching people’s doors. Those sightings have helped residents keep track of her whereabouts, giving rescuers a better chance of finding her.

The organization has asked people not to try to catch Wendy themselves. She is still a wild animal, and a frightened coyote can be dangerous to approach. Reporting a sighting gives trained rescuers the information they need without putting anyone in unnecessary danger.

Wendy’s story also says something about how closely Los Angeles residents live alongside wildlife. Coyotes have adapted to urban environments, making sightings common in neighborhoods where people might not expect to encounter them.

Wildlife Care of Southern California works with injured and orphaned wildlife in the region, and the organization says urbanization has increased the need for wildlife rehabilitation. Wendy is now one of the animals drawing attention to that work.

The Jokes Are Everywhere, but So Is the Concern

Wendy’s appearance has produced the usual internet reaction to an animal that looks unusual. One person joked that an orange cat had beaten her up, while others compared her to a moose or blamed the Road Runner for hitting her with an anvil.

The jokes have appeared alongside plenty of genuine concern. People are sharing sightings, asking whether rescuers have found Wendy and directing the organization to places she may be hiding.

Wendy is not the first unusual-looking animal to develop an online following. A Seattle raccoon called Jimothy recently became an internet sensation after residents began sharing sightings of him, giving people online another reason to keep tabs on an animal they would otherwise never have encountered.

For Wendy, the attention could ultimately do some good. Wildlife Care of Southern California is asking people to report sightings and is accepting donations to help cover the equipment and veterinary care she will need.

For now, nobody knows exactly what is happening beneath the growth covering Wendy’s face. Everyone waiting for an update is hoping the next sighting leads rescuers to her and gets her in front of a veterinarian.

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