Coyote with Head Stuck in Bucket Rescued from Flooded Field in San Diego

The juvenile male coyote was thought to be a dog at first

A coyote is recovering in San Diego after being rescued from a flooded field, where he was found with a bucket stuck on his head.

San Diego Humane Law Enforcement, a department of the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS), was called to the flooded Tijuana River Valley on Monday after an animal thought to be a dog was seen floating amidst the debris with a bucket stuck to its head, the SDHS said in a statement provided to PEOPLE Thursday.

Upon further examination at the scene, officers discovered that the animal was not a dog, but rather a juvenile male coyote. SDHS required help from the city's lifeguards to reach the animal by boat because the terrain was difficult to navigate.

Upon being rescued from the field, the coyote was sent to the Bahde Wildlife Center for treatment, which initially included a sedative and pain medication. A veterinary team then removed the bucket from the animal's head.

After the bucket was removed, the coyote was assessed further, with fluids administered and x-rays taken.

Related: 10-Lb. Senior Dog with 3 Teeth Saves Canine Brother from Coyote Attack: 'Our Little Hero'

"He was wet, suffering from mild hypothermia, had cactus spines stuck in his fur and wounds that needed care," SDHS's statement read.

The day after his care began, the canine was transferred to SDHS's Ramona Wildlife Center, where a team caring for apex predators is located.

"We are hopeful this juvenile coyote will be able to recover and return to the wild soon," SDHS concluded.

The news of this coyote rescue comes just a few months after another coyote in California was discovered sleeping on outdoor furniture by an unsuspecting homeowner.

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At the time, the Animal Care & Control San Francisco (SFACC) tweeted that an officer called to the home “encouraged this sleepy coyote couch potato to move along and find a more coyote-appropriate (but less comfy) place to sleep."

SFACC said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the coyote followed the officer's advice.

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