Customers could be heard gasping as officers made several attempts to yank the coyote out of the shelf—finally pulling the animal out by its tail.

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.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, coyotes can experience increased aggression and boldness from mid-January to early March, putting pets at greater risk. Coyotes often target smaller animals like cats and dogs, luring them away or attacking them outright.

It’s a sad reality that sometimes our small pets are not safe on their own outside. Predators, including coyotes, pose a threat.

Coyote mating season typically lasts from January to March, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.