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

Shoppers and staff at a Chicago Aldi were surprised to find a coyote hiding in the refrigerated section, prompting a response from animal control.

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.

Imagine shopping for groceries and stumbling upon a wild coyote in the frozen food aisle. That's exactly what happened in a Chicago Aldi store today.

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

Coyote mating season is in progress from January through March, and coyotes are now more visible as they search for mates and establish territory. Marissa Sulek reports.

After several high-profile and unusual coyote encounters in the Chicago area, experts are offering explanations on why such incidents are occurring.

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

It is mating season for coyotes, which "generally means increased activity in urban areas, including Chicago," according to Chicago Animal Care and Control.

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.

The grocer’s CEO declared last month that it was in “strong financial condition,” but layoffs announced this week suggest a bumpy road ahead.

Thousands of coyotes call Chicago home year-round, but coyote mating season means it's the time of year you're most likely to see one. While coyotes mostly avoid humans, Chicagoans should avoid feeding them,