Val, an orphaned coyote pup rescued earlier this year in San Diego County, is thriving in her new home in Richmond, Virginia, where she is helping educate visitors about wildlife, the San Diego Humane Society announced.
The pup, known as the “Valentine’s Day coyote,” or Val for short, was the first coyote of the season admitted to SDHS’ Project Wildlife program. She arrived on Feb. 14, 2026, after being found along a creek in Valley Center.
According to the SDHS, a community member initially left her overnight in hopes her mother would return, but when she did not, the pup was brought to San Diego Humane Society for care.
Val receives care at the San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program following her rescue on Feb. 14. (San Diego Humane Society)
Ramona Wildlife Center staff wear masks to care for orphaned coyote pup, Val. (San Diego Humane Society)
Wildlife experts at the organization believe the pup was born in late December, outside the typical coyote breeding season of January through March. During her time at the Ramona Wildlife Center, staff initially provided hands-off care to prevent habituation. Caregivers wore coyote disguises and introduced natural scents to help maintain her wild instincts, while she progressed from formula to eating solid food, the SDHS said.
“We did everything we could to give this pup a chance to remain wild,” said Autumn Welch, SDHS wildlife operations manager. “We even revisited the site where she came from with the finder to look for evidence of
a den or siblings, but found nothing.”
Ultimately, after a consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, it was determined Val would not be able to survive in the wild on her own. The organizations decided to transfer her to a licensed
wildlife facility.
Welch flew across the country with Val on April 8 to her new home at the Robins Nature Center in Maymont, a 100-acre Victorian estate and park in Richmond. Robins’ staff have begun introducing Val to her new roommate, Bernie, another coyote living in the center’s newly renovated Virginia Wildlife Trail.
“Val will play an important role in helping people better understand coyotes and how to peacefully coexist with wildlife,” Welch said. “While we always strive to return animals to the wild, in cases like this, providing a
high-quality permanent home is the best possible outcome.”
Val receives care at the San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program following her rescue on Feb. 14.
Ramona Wildlife Center staff wear masks to care for orphaned coyote pup, Val.
Now at the Virginia Nature Center, Val helps educate visitors about wildlife after her rehabilitation in San Diego County.