Local authorities and animal rescue workers were left scratching their heads on Tuesday after a bizarre scene unfolded in a nearby park. A coyote had managed to get its head stuck inside a statue of a rabbit, prompting a large-scale effort to rescue the unlucky creature.
According to witnesses at the scene, park-goers were initially confused as to what they were seeing: “At first I thought it was just a really realistic statue,” said one woman, “But then it started moving around and making these weird noises. That’s when we realized it was a real coyote.”
The animal, who officials later confirmed was male, had apparently been chasing after a rabbit when it got too close to a statue in the park’s garden. Despite the statue’s obvious bunny-like appearance, the coyote seemed to have been taken off-guard, and ended up getting its head trapped inside the sculpture’s hollow body.
Witnesses say they observed the animal wriggling and twisting to try and free itself, but to no avail. Several phone calls were made to local authorities, who initially had trouble believing the absurd situation they were hearing about. “Yes, you heard that right”, one operator reportedly scoffed, “A coyote has its head stuck in a statue. You want me to send someone over?”
Soon after, a team of animal control workers arrived at the scene. With the help of heavy-duty equipment, they were able to gently remove the statue from the coyote’s head, much to the relief of everyone involved. The animal appeared, at least outwardly, to be unharmed by the ordeal.
Local officials have since urged park-goers to exercise caution when interacting with statues, but have also acknowledged that this particular scenario was something of an anomaly. “We’re just glad the coyote is safe,” said one official, “And we hope this serves as a reminder to everyone that even the most unexpected things can happen in life.”
Despite the happy ending, however, some critics have expressed concern that the rescue effort may only serve to encourage other animals to engage in similar risky behaviors. “What’s next, a deer getting its antlers caught in a mailbox?” one outspoken critic asked. “This could set a dangerous precedent for our wildlife.”
As for the coyote, it appears to have learned its lesson. Witnesses say that as soon as it was freed from the statue, it promptly ran off into the woods, presumably in search of a less embarrassing distraction.
