Frightened coyote seeks shelter in middle school bathroom, California video shows

A scared coyote wandered into a California middle school and hid behind a toilet, animal control officers said.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services was called on Monday, Oct. 3 after employees found the male coyote in the stall of a bathroom at Mission Middle School in Jurupa Valley, according to a news release.

A video released by the agency shows the 9-month-old coyote trying to hide behind the toilet before an animal control officer approaches him and coaxes him out, using a snare pole.

In the video, an animal control officer can be heard quietly saying “Let’s get you,” as he tries to place the lasso on the animal.

“We are pleased that this incident was smooth and all the children were OK and we were able to get the coyote back to its more natural habitat,” Animal Services Director Erin Gettis said, according to the release.

Once captured, the coyote was released into the open land.

“Bon voyage,” the animal control official said in the video as the coyote ran across the open area.

The 9-month-old coyote was nicknamed “Wile E.” after the mischievous coyote in the popular “Road Runner” cartoons, according to the news release.

The coyote had been spotted around campus for the past weeks but was never seen on school grounds until employees saw him in the bathroom, officials said.

As land development creates more open spaces in once natural habitats, more encounters with coyotes and other wildlife can be expected, according to the release.

Jurupa Valley is about 50 miles east of Los Angeles.

In September an Ohio family encountered a coyote in their home, also hiding behind the toilet, according to McClatchy News. Officers were able to “safely remove the coyote and release him back into nature unharmed.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2022 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Frightened coyote seeks shelter in middle school bathroom, California video shows."