Mystery animal rescued in Pennsylvania, baffles experts

A woman in Pennsylvania has rescued an unknown animal, confounding wildlife specialists in the state.

Christina Eyth discovered the animal “cold and shivering” near her home in Adams County.

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According to NBC News, Eyth noticed some snowy paw tracks outside her door and assumed her neighbor’s dog had gotten out. She followed the footprints only to come face to face with an unknown animal.

“I peeked outside the door and that’s whenever I noticed the animal on my left hand side and it was so scared and so cold and shivering,” Eyth said. “All I could think about is ‘this animal needs help.'”

Eyth then coaxed the animal into her basement before calling a local wildlife rescue group for assistance.

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Wildlife Works experts were unable to determine the animal’s species after bringing it in for examination. It’s either a dog or a coyote, they think.

Coyotes live in the wild, unlike dogs, who are usually domesticated.

Coyotes have smoother fur, a flatter forehead, and a more pointed snout than domesticated dogs. They also look to have longer legs than dogs, and their chests appear to be deeper.

Coyotes and dogs frequently leave distinct traces. Coyote tracks are extended because they walk with their front and back paws aligned. Coyotes are found throughout Pennsylvania, and their numbers are increasing, making it impossible to quantify their exact numbers.

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Wildlife Works is currently conducting testing to determine the identity of the mysterious animal.

Morgan Barron, a Wildlife Works trained wildlife rehabilitator, remarked, “I honestly couldn’t definitively say what it is. But to err on the side of caution since they can carry rabies and since it might be a coyote, we can keep it here, get genetic testing done, and then kind of go from there…  Behavior-wise, he’s very timid, very scared and not aggressive at all, which makes me lean towards dog.”

Wildlife Works noted in a Facebook update, which can be viewed here, that the test results will take two to four weeks to arrive.

The animal will also be checked for mange and rabies, and will be kept in isolation until the results are received. “We will continue to update on his progress and let everyone know when the results come back,” the post said.

Regardless of the outcome, Eyth stated that she would do it all over again. “There was an animal in need, and I feel like I did the right thing either way,” she said.