Coyote Causes Chaos In Chicago Aldi After Hiding In Refrigerated Aisle

Shoppers at a Chicago Aldi were left stunned after a wild coyote was discovered hiding in the store’s refrigerated section. The startling incident took place Monday morning at the Humboldt Park location and was captured in a video that quickly went viral on social media.

The animal had been spotted wandering the parking lot before it entered the store. Seeking cover, it found a hiding spot under shelves filled with cold products. Responding officers used broomsticks to search the area until one officer managed to pull the coyote out by its tail.

The startled animal briefly attempted to escape but was quickly captured without injury by Animal Care and Control. Officials confirmed that the coyote was secured around 9:45 a.m. and posed no threat to shoppers or staff.

Chicago Animal Care and Control has since placed the coyote in their facility, where it will be evaluated by Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation. Experts will assess the animal’s condition before determining if it can be safely released back into the wild.

Stan Gehrt with the Cook County Coyote Project noted that coyote activity typically increases in the winter months due to mating season. He explained that young, solitary coyotes often wander into unexpected places while searching for new territory.

Though generally not dangerous to humans, wildlife officials urge residents to take precautions by not leaving food outside and properly securing trash to reduce the chances of attracting wild animals.

For Aldi shoppers, this bizarre experience turned an ordinary grocery run into a story they will not soon forget.

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