A pair of orphaned coyote pups have found a new home at the Virginia Living Museum after staff assessed they could not be safely returned to the wild.

The pups arrived at the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Centre as infants. Despite efforts to 'wild up' the animals by housing them with other coyotes and limiting human contact, authorities said both became too attached to people to survive on their own.

The female brush wolf was just two days old when she was found under a deck in Palm Desert. A rescuer bottle-fed her for two weeks before she arrived at the centre in April.

The male pup was rescued in May from Long Beach while his eyes were still closed. He also required intensive bottle feeding before being moved to an outdoor habitat with other coyotes. Staff noticed that he often sought attention from his caretakers - a sign that he was too accustomed to humans.

Both received veterinary care, proper nutrition, and enrichment suited to their species at the centre.

After it was decided they could not be safely released, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved their placement at the Virginia Living Museum, where they will receive lifelong care and help educate the public.

Project Wildlife staff personally transported the creatures to Los Angeles International Airport on September 30, where they were escorted aboard a FedEx flight to Virginia to begin their permanent home.

Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at San Diego Humane Society, said: 'Helping orphaned wild animals return to nature is always our goal, but sometimes the kindest outcome is providing them with a permanent home where they can thrive.'

The Virginia Living Museum added that the coyotes will serve as ambassadors, teaching visitors how to coexist with wildlife and inspiring respect and protection for wild animals.

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are intelligent, adaptable wild canines native to North America. They play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling rodent populations, although they are often misunderstood due to their proximity to human communities.