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.

Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A confused coyote was removed from a grocery store's refrigerated shelf Monday morning. The incident occurred at a Chicago-area Aldi store, where the animal apparently sought refuge in the store's produce aisle .