Wildlife rehabbers theorized the animal ducked into the supermarket, then hid among refrigerated items to "hide from people inside the store.”

Customers gasped as officers made several attempts to yank the coyote out of the shelf, finally pulling the animal out by its tail.

A coyote that was pulled out of the refrigerated section of an Aldi in Chicago yesterday will be returned to the wild, officials said. The wild animal was “likely seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life,” slipped into the store via an open door and then hid behind the cheeses and deli meats to avoid the people in the store.

Coyote sightings and interactions in Chicago are increasing as the breeding season, lasting from January to March, gets underway.

Four teenage boys have been cited in connection with the death of a coyote on the Far South Side earlier this month, according to Chicago police and state wildlife officials. The suspects, ages 16 and 17,

An officer eventually grabbed what appeared to be a furry tail and furiously pulled before the wild animal shockingly emerged and landed on the market floor.

Officials gave an update Tuesday on a coyote pulled from a refrigerator shelf at an Aldi in Chicago, a moment that was captured on now-viral video.

Animal appeared uninjured and will be assessed before being released back into the wild if that is deemed appropriate.

It was not known how a coyote found its way to the Aldi at 800 N. Kedzie Ave., but police officers and the city's animal control department helped out, Chicago police said. The coyote will get a health assessment before it's released.

The best part? A heartwarming sprint to freedom as the coyote darted off into the snowy wilds, no doubt dreaming of its warm, cozy den.”

A viral video from inside the store shows two police officers struggling to pull something out of the refrigerated section as shoppers watch with curiosity.

Local experts want residents and pet owners to be aware that more coyotes have been spotted in the daytime around the city -- and to know what