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.

In video first shared by Instagram user @chicagocritterrr, a police officer can be seen poking and prodding around the store's refrigerated section with what appears to be a Swiffer Sweeper. As the officer begins to pull the coyote out by its tail,