Orphaned Coyote Puppies
Contact with the finders suddenly stopped as phone calls were not answered or returned–and then we received disturbing news: the finders returned the pups to the mountain and left them there to starve or freeze to death. All contact then stopped as the finders refused to communicate with us further.
We called the local PGC in case the finders were lying and had kept the pups. They promised to visit the family the next day. 
Hope and I then sat on the phone most of the night trying to find the location of the pups. Tracing the finder’s phone number we found their address. We had been told the mother was found near the finder’s farm. Maps in hand, we searched for the most likely location of that “mountain” and settled on a nine square mile area outside of Bangor. This large area left us little hope of finding the pups at all, and that particularly cold night left little chance of them surviving until morning.
The next morning I received a call from a woman in Bangor whose boyfriend found a single coyote pup while four-wheeling. I asked her the location and it was within that nine mile area we had plotted. Relaying the story to this new person, I asked if they could look for more pups.
Although (according to Tom Wampler at the PA Department of Agriculture) rabies had never been documented in coyotes or coy-dogs in Pennsylvania at that time, the Eastern Coyote is one of six species on the Rabies Vector Species list. Armed with the information I gave them about rabies and how to safely handle RVS species, the couple joined members of a local four-wheeling club and set out to find the remaining pups
March 18th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
What a great story. Although you had a tough decision to make, you can tell it was the right one. The surviving pups are beautiful. I especially enjoyed the video. You were right. Their agility is amazing. Thanks for what you do.
June 3rd, 2007 at 10:37 am
This is beautiful story and even though it had a sad ending for the little girl, nature took care of the two other ones. Your persistence and love is truly admired. The pictures are beautiful and May Mother Nature bless you…
October 4th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I think it’s great that you guys help so many animals in need. I really appreciate it and alot of other people do to.
February 19th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I came across your article and site by chance, and found it very interesting. I am doing some coyote research for a piece of fiction and have a question you might be able to answer: If orphaned pups were brought to an adult female, say one in a rehab/research center, would the female be able/interested in “mothering” them, and could she physically be induced to nurse the young?
May 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
In reply to Darcy Maloney:
You couldn’t do that unless the mother was lactating which is only after it has had its own babies feeding from it or she has been milked within 72 hours, and she would have a more likely chance of accepting the new babies if she had none of her own due to a miscarriage or some other fatal accident to her own pups. Sometimes a female’s body can be tricked into thinking it’s pregnant to the point where its lactating, and never seing its own pups it almost always accepts its new adopted young.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I really am happy that you are helping the animals. I would love to help them but it is so sad. I am an aimal lover.
April 25th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Those puppies are cute! I love how you help the animals. Ummm. Peggy did you have to put jamaca to sleep, also can you keep the bald eagle?
April 25th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Akira,
We’re not sure about the eagle yet. Jamaica is beginning to do much better and I think she’ll make a great education bird.
Peggy
July 12th, 2009 at 5:26 am
I don’t usually comment on blog posts… but this was a good post.. keep up the good work
October 16th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
This story was so very touching. You are heros to those coyotes. Every animal serves a purpose and though the story brough a few tears, the ending was happy. You are wonderful people to help innocent abandoned animals. God bless.