Mystery over strange animal no one could identify — and that 'went berserk,' broke out of cage, and escaped from shelter — has been solved

Remember that mystery animal that was grabbing headlines a few weeks back?

Not only because nobody could figure out exactly what it was, but also because PhillyVoice reported it "went berserk" in a western Pennsylvania shelter, "demolished" its cage, climbed shelves, and "chewed" window seals before escaping back into the wild.

Well, the mystery has been solved thanks to a completed DNA test.

'The results are in!'

A Valentine's Day post on Facebook from Wildlife Works — which had been taking care of the creature until it busted out of the joint sometime between closing time Jan. 26 and when it reopened the next day — provided the great unveiling.

"The results are in! Our 'mystery animal' DNA sample came back," the post read. "100% coyote!"

What's the background?

The male animal began making headlines in mid-January after a woman found him near her home in Westmoreland County, Philly Voice said, adding that the animal then was taken to Wildlife Works — a Youngwood non-profit that rehabilitates and releases distressed animals. The creature's fur showed visible signs of mange.

Then on the morning of Jan. 27, a Wildlife Works staff member arrived at the shelter to find it partially ransacked, with trash strewn all over, PhillyVoice said, adding that there were scratch marks on the walls, a window's seal and screen were torn apart — and the mystery animal's cage was open and empty.

The creature had escaped, WJW-TV reported.

"The crate was just demolished. The hospital room was demolished. He had clambered up on a set of shelves and then reached over — this was no easy feat, let me tell you — he managed to stretch over to a window," Beth Shoaf, Wildlife Works' executive director, told PhillyVoice at the time. "These windows are high at the top of the walls. They're not windows you look out of, you know? And he chewed the window seals to force the window open — and out he went!"

Shoaf added to the outlet that "nobody in the world thought something like this could happen. He was half-dead."

PhillyVoice noted that a Wildlife Works Facebook post — which has since been deleted — said the group is upset the animal escaped:

He never acted aggressive or distressed, and there had been no evidence of escape attempts. We had him for about a week, during which time he ate nutritious food and received treatment for his mange and secondary infections. We can only guess he was starting to feel somewhat better and decided it was time to go.

Hopefully those of you who know Wildlife Works know this is NOT [our] standard of care, and will understand how devastated we are — not just for ourselves but for that poor creature out there in the cold again struggling to survive.

Shoaf told the outlet she took down the Facebook post with the photos after Wildlife Works was "deluged" with comments — most positive, but some hostile. PhillyVoice said one person threatened to come to the shelter and hunt down the animal.

She also noted to the outlet that the shelter is trying to lure the animal back and has set traps in hopes of recovering him, but there has been no sign of the animal since his escape.

Mystery animal awaiting DNA results escapes rescue facility | NewsNation Primeyoutu.be

'Thinking he is long gone'

When Wildlife Works was waiting for DNA results, Shoaf told PhillyVoice the shelter received many guesses regarding what exactly the mystery animal is.

"Everything from an abused greyhound to Chupacabra. Seriously. There were lots of people that thought it might be Chupacabra," she told the outlet, in reference to the mythical creature said to drink goat blood. "The only place I ever saw Chupacabra was on 'Scooby Doo,' and it didn't look like a dog."

As for the coyote's whereabouts, Morgan Barron — a wildlife rehabilitator at the shelter — told TribLive, “Still no sightings ... thinking he is long gone."

Animal experts investigate mystery animal Pennsylvania woman found outside homeyoutu.be