Buttonwood Park Zoo mourns the loss of Cody the Coyote on Thursday, March 17, 2016. The statement on their Facebook page reads:

"It is with extremely heavy hearts that Buttonwood Park Zoo announces the passing of its male coyote, Cody. Earlier this week Cody was discovered by the Zoo's nighttime security to have a significant limp, and Zoo staff mobilized immediately to assess his injuries. Upon veterinary examination it was determined that Cody had severely fractured his leg. The Zoo does not have a full understanding of how Cody was injured. The extent of the damage to Cody's leg was deemed irreparable by the Zoo's veterinarian. The only option for Cody was to attempt to amputate his leg above the shoulder. Along with the veterinarian, the Zoo's director, curator, and animal care staff weighed the quality of life that could be expected for Cody. Unlike most domestic dogs, coyotes are a species that can easily become stressed in a clinical setting and typically do not react well behaviorally to frequent veterinary intervention. The Zoo considered the complexity of the surgery and challenges to full recovery, the number of followup examinations that would require full sedation, and the need to keep Cody in a hospital setting for a significant period of time. Additionally, the unlikelihood that Cody would ever be able to be housed with other coyotes, including the Zoo's female coyote Molly, due to his inability to defend himself successfully in a social coyote grouping was considered. Taking all these factors into consideration, the incredibly difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize Cody."

"Cody came to the Zoo in 2014. Early in life Cody was discovered orphaned in the wild and was raised by a wildlife rehabilitator in Minnesota. Based on the need for the rehabber to find a permanent captive home for Cody and the Zoo's longterm success in providing homes to injured and orphaned wildlife, the Zoo brought Cody to New Bedford. Zoo staff spent countless hours acclimating Cody to his new home. During his time at the Zoo, Cody at various times was housed with Edison, the Zoo's older male coyote, a domestic shelter dog, and Molly, the Zoo's young female coyote. Because Cody was raised in Minnesota with no other coyotes, his introduction to other animals proved very challenging due to him not displaying typical coyote behaviors. At the time of his injury, Cody was being acclimated to Molly in an enclosure adjacent, but separated from her."

"Needless to say, staff is devastated by the death of Cody. Although only at the Zoo for a relatively short period of time, staff and zoo guests alike fell in love with this coyote who had a tough start to life. Over the next few months the Zoo will evaluate all options for its remaining coyote, Molly."

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