Coyote pups rescued. 'At a first glance, they could be mistaken for domestic dog pups'

A pair of coyote pups discovered in a yard in Rockland last week are being cared for on the Cape until they are ready for release, according to Rockland Animal Control Officer Ian Davidson.

He said the pups were found on Rice Street by a resident in a debris pile behind a shed in their backyard on Wednesday, April 10. They appeared to be less than a week old, and their eyes were still closed, Davidson said.

"The resident reported that there were three deceased pups, but I was not able to locate the remains in my search of the den area," Davidson said. "They also reported that they believed that the mom had been hit by a car, but I could not verify that. There had not been any calls to me or the police department for an injured or deceased adult coyote anywhere in town."

Davidson said he met and consulted with Hingham Animal Control Officer Leslie Badger, with whom he works closely.

"(We) confirmed that they were indeed coyote pups," he said. "At that age at a first glance, they could be mistaken for domestic dog pups."

The pups were secured and a call was placed to the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth once the officers had all the information they could gather.

"I expected there to be a few questions, as coming in contact with coyote pups is a rare experience – my first time in six years on the job," Davidson said.

The Wildlife Center initially said if the pups appeared to be in good health following an examination, they would be returned to where they were found in case the mother returned.

A vet at the center, however, determined that they were severely dehydrated and in need of immediate care, Davidson said.

After bundling up the pups with a hot water bottle in a blanket, Davidson took them to the center's Barnstable location, which is equipped for treatment and rehabilitation.

"The pups will be cared for and raised by the professional staff there until they are old enough to be returned to the wild to continue their life," Davidson said, adding that he has since checked in with the Weymouth location to get an update on their progress.

"I was told that so far so good, and they were responding to treatment," he said.