A Baby Coyote Was Covered Head to Toe in Cactus Spines. Then Rescuers Stepped In

June 8, 2026

A young coyote in Arizona is getting a second chance after surviving what wildlife experts described as one of the worst cactus encounters they have ever seen.

The tiny pup, believed to be just four to six weeks old, was found in Surprise, Arizona, covered from head to tail in hundreds of painful Cholla cactus spines. Thanks to the dedicated team at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, the little survivor is now recovering and expected to return to the wild.

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

When the rescue center received the call, veterinary technician Berkeley Martineau knew the situation would be challenging. Cholla cacti are notorious for their sharp, barbed spines that cling stubbornly to anything they touch.

"He had spines just about everywhere," Martineau said. "We've seen it in the face and paw, but this was head to tail. Everywhere. There were spines in the nose, mouth, tongue, tail, and back; it was everywhere."

The pup was lightly sedated while rescuers carefully removed the spines one by one. The painstaking procedure lasted more than two hours.

"You could see some of the spines had gone through the ear," Martineau said.

The effort was tedious, but it likely saved the young animal's life.

As difficult as the rescue was, the story now has a happy ending. A week after the procedure, the coyote is eating well, gaining strength, and beginning to socialize with other orphaned pups at the center.

Martineau suspects the whole ordeal may have started with a simple mistake.

"It was probably a goofy little coyote who stumbled into the wrong cactus," he said.

If all continues to go well, the pup will spend the next couple of months in rehabilitation before being released back into the wild, where hopefully he'll steer clear of Cholla cacti from now on.