A beloved Los Angeles-area coyote named Wendy was euthanized after veterinarians discovered she had been shot in the face with a pellet gun, according to reports published on September 9, 2026. Wildlife Care of Southern California announced that diagnostic imaging revealed two pellets lodged in Wendy’s head, which caused a massive infection that completely destroyed the left side of her upper jaw bone.
Studio City Residents Tracked Injured Coyote for Over a Year
The 3-year-old coyote had become a familiar sight in Studio City, where locals noticed a huge growth or abscess on the side of her face and watched with concern for more than a year. Wildlife rescuers spent weeks trying to catch the animal before Wildlife Care of Southern California successfully captured her late last month. Rescuers initially hoped to provide medical treatment and return Wendy back to the wild, noting she showed “remarkable endurance” by surviving devastating trauma, two pellets, and a relentless infection while searching for food.
Veterinarians administered antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and soft food during her week in care. However, medical assessments determined that the damage was far too severe to ever restore normal function. According to the rescue organization, Wendy would have required a soft-food diet for the remainder of her life, meaning she could never return to the wild or experience the freedom she deserved.
Wildlife Experts Face Difficult Decision After Pellet Gun Shooting
Faced with the reality that captivity and permanent soft-food dependence was no life for a young coyote, wildlife experts decided that putting Wendy down was the most humane option. Rescuers noted that their final responsibility was ensuring her courage did not require her to suffer any longer, calling the decision heartbreaking.
The organization reported that Wendy was kept safe, comfortable, and surrounded by supportive people during her final days. The group also plans to release photographs from Wendy’s examination to document the severity of her condition, while expressing deep gratitude to everyone who followed her story, donated toward her care, and helped with her capture.
Did You Know? Wendy lived with her facial injury for more than a year before being captured, surviving with two pellets lodged in her head and an infection that destroyed part of her upper jaw.
Expert Insight: Wildlife rescue cases involving illegal shootings highlight the severe, long-term suffering inflicted on urban wildlife when animals are targeted by individuals using pellet guns. Veterinary assessments ultimately prioritize long-term quality of life and humane release potential over prolonged captivity when injuries prevent a wild animal from ever returning to its natural habitat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Wendy euthanized?
Veterinarians determined that a severe pellet gun wound had caused an infection that destroyed part of her upper jaw. Because the damage was irreversible and she would have needed a soft-food diet forever, experts concluded she could never survive on her own or return to the wild.
How long did Wendy suffer from her injuries?
Wildlife rescuers reported that Wendy survived with the injury for more than a year in the Studio City neighborhood before she was finally captured.
What did veterinarians find during Wendy’s medical examination?
Diagnostic imaging revealed two pellets lodged in her head, indicating she had been shot with a pellet gun, alongside a massive infection that destroyed the upper jaw bone on the left side of her face.
What steps should communities take to protect local wildlife from pellet gun attacks and other targeted harm?
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