Coyote Found Hiding in Chicago Aldi’s Refrigerated Section

CHICAGO — Shoppers at an Aldi grocery store in Chicago got an unexpected surprise Monday when a coyote was discovered hiding in the refrigerated section. The incident, captured on video, shows Chicago police officers attempting to wrangle the animal before it was safely taken into custody by city animal control officers.

The coyote, described as scared but unharmed, was transferred to Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation for assessment. “The coyote is unharmed, but he is scared,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “We will return him to the wild as he is ready.”

Wildlife experts theorized that the coyote entered the store to escape human traffic and sought refuge in the refrigerated section. “It picked an odd location. They do this sometimes. They make a mistake. They’re trying to avoid us. They’re trying to hide from us,” said Stan Gehrt of the Cook County Coyote Project.

Chicago Animal Care and Control spokesperson Armando Tejeda confirmed the coyote was in good condition despite the ordeal. He noted that the incident coincided with coyote mating season, a time when the animals are more active and may venture into unusual areas. “They’re trying to mark their territory, letting other males know the area is taken,” Tejeda explained.

The video of the incident, shared on social media, has garnered over 6.5 million views. It shows officers using a mop to coax the coyote out before pulling it by its tail. The animal briefly escaped back under the cold food display before being secured.

Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation will evaluate the coyote before releasing it back into the wild. Officials also reminded residents that coyotes are typically wary of humans and urged people to avoid feeding them. No injuries were reported during the incident.