SOUTH PORTLAND — South Portland police expect an abandoned coyote pup found in Cape Elizabeth will be taken to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray for rehabilitation.

A Cape resident discovered the tiny pup in the backyard Thursday. South Portland’s Animal Control Officer Corey Hamilton responded and took the animal to the city’s police station, according to a story posted on the police department’s Facebook page.

Police expect the Maine Warden Service will take this very young coyote pup, found abandoned in a Cape Elizabeth backyard, to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray for rehabilitation. Courtesy of the South Portland Police Department

“Now being from the Portland area, we don’t see many of these creatures in our neck of the state. That explains my lack of knowing what a young coyote is even called. So for the purposes of this post, I’m just going to call it a pup. I’ll have to say this very young pup might even change your mind about coyotes being mangy scavengers,” the article says.

South Portland Police turned the coyote over to the Maine Warden Service, which police said will likely take the pup to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray for rehabilitation.

Coyotes are adaptable, living in many different kinds of habitats, including deep forest and suburban areas, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Their distinctive howls and high-pitched yelps can be heard as far away as 3 miles. Litter sizes can range from four to seven pups.

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