While walking her dog in rural Louisiana, a woman came across something she couldn’t ignore: a frail, sickly animal lying motionless near the path. Covered in mosquitoes and barely clinging to life, it was a young coyote, and she needed urgent help.
Without hesitation, the woman drove an hour and a half to Geaux Wild Rehab, a wildlife rescue facility dedicated to giving animals a second chance.
“She couldn’t even lift her head,” said Tisha Raiford, director of Geaux Wild Rehab. “She was very weak — very lifeless.”
No Clear Diagnosis, But No Giving Up
Tisha and a local veterinarian immediately began treating the coyote with anti-parasitic medications, fluids, and a series of diagnostic tests, including bloodwork and X-rays. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
Still, the coyote — now named Zelda — wasn’t ready to give up, and neither was Raiford.
“She had a will to live,” Raiford said. “And I kept telling myself, as long as she’s still fighting, I’ll keep fighting with her and for her.”
The Long Road to Recovery
Zelda couldn’t move much at all during those first few weeks. Each day, Raiford fed her a carefully balanced diet rich in nutrients, performed gentle physical therapy, and used cold laser therapy to stimulate her atrophied muscles.
It was a painstaking process, and for weeks, progress was hard to see. Then, three weeks in, something changed.
Zelda began pushing herself up with her legs. It was the first small sign of hope.
Soon, she was standing. Then walking. And before long, she was pacing around her enclosure, full of restlessness and energy — a sure sign that she was ready to return to the wild.
Back Where She Belongs
After eight weeks of intensive care and love, Zelda was strong enough to go home.
Before releasing her, Raiford partnered with The Canid Project to fit Zelda with a non-invasive tracking collar as part of a research initiative to monitor coyotes in their natural habitat. This would also allow Raiford to keep tabs on the resilient animal she had grown to admire so deeply.
On the day of her release, the woman who found Zelda and the vet who helped save her joined Raiford to say goodbye. It was an emotional moment as Raiford opened the kennel door.
“I felt tears welling in my eyes,” she recalled. “She looked straight at me — and there was such determination in her eyes.”
Zelda didn’t hesitate. She leapt from the kennel, splashed into a nearby stream, and took off running — wild and free once more.
“She knew exactly where she was,” Raiford said. “She was home.”
Help More Animals Like Zelda
Zelda’s story is a testament to what compassion and persistence can achieve. If her journey inspired you, consider supporting Geaux Wild Rehab by making a donation here.
Because every wild life deserves a second chance.
