California: Scared rabbit running into flames saved by Good Samaritan

CALIFORNIA -- A terrified, wild rabbit got a hand from an animal lover evacuating from the fast spreading California wildfires Wednesday.

The amazing rescue was caught on camera.

The man struggled to chase down the bunny by the side of Highway 1 in Ventura County, but he isn't fast enough to grab the animal before it ran into the brush.

The man doesn't give up, moving in closer and finally snatching his new floppy-eared friend and carrying it to safety.

The Thomas fire has now burned more than 90,000 and forced the evacuation of more than 50,000 homes.

VIDEO CLIP OF BUNNY BEING RESCUED:

*  *  *  *  *  *

Caleb Wadnan has been identified as the Good Samaritan who rescued the bunny. He took it to Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital, who confirmed that Wadnan brought in the burned bunny.

The female cottontail was recovering from burns and heat damage, and it was too soon to say when it would be fully healed.

 

 

Meanwhile, wildlife officials just gotta be the pickle in the punch bowl and claiming that he shouldn't have intervened. They claim this bunny had a den of babies she was trying to get back to and that humans shouldn't intervene.

OK well tell that to Smokey the Bear. Tell that to the Australian firefighter whose video went viral of him giving water to a burned, thirsty koala. According to fish & game and wildlife officials, all these wild animals that are rescued should just be left to suffer and slowly die.

Wildlife agencies suck. Want more proof? Here you go:


Vermont: Police perform CPR on newborn deer to save its life; VT Fish & Wildlife then kill it


Kansas family’s pet deer chased around the yard by game wardens, shot in the leg and then shot in the back four times, killing her


North Carolina: Couple Upset After Pet Raccoon Confiscated, Killed


Wisconsin: Armed agents raid animal shelter for baby deer, then kill it


Ohio: Archie the pet bear is euthanized


Plea to governor to return three illegal deer to Kingwood family met with silence


Former vet tech faces fine, jail for saving raccoons, deer


Rocky the pet squirrel is lassoed by red tape as officials say his host family is not allowed to keep him


Wildlife officials continue to do what they do best: KILL ANIMALS


Ohio wildlife officials shoot and kill friendly deer. Why? Follow the money trail. They want to protect the deer which then get chased by dogs, shot with arrows and shot to death by PAYING hunters


Pet coyote, which wasn't being aggressive towards anyone, killed after getting loose from owner

New Jersey: Howell woman who saved squirrels won't take plea deal


“It’s not the practice of the Missouri Department of Conservation to pass problem animals on to other people”: This is the excuse the MDC used for killing a young nuisance bear rather than offering to a sanctuary who insists they could've found a home for the bear 'within an hour'


Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife tells Estes Park police officer to kill injured baby elk. He refuses and saves its life.


New York: Someone found a baby raccoon and brought it into a bar so the health department killed 12 more that hadn't been touched by humans

(KSDK - Dec 8, 2017)

New Jersey: Judge denies motion to dismiss bird-killing indictment against ex-councilman Carlos Luaces

NEW JERSEY -- Citing that he felt enough evidence was presented to a Passaic County grand jury to secure an indictment, a judge on Thursday declined to dismiss the indictment against a former Byram councilman charged with animal cruelty.

Carlos Luaces is charged with third-degree animal cruelty and is accused of killing a baby bird by spraying it and its nest with pesticides while serving as the head of the West Milford Department of Public Works.

The charges are based on interviews with a half-dozen public works employees, who said Luaces first ordered them to destroy the nest by spraying it with pesticide. 

The employees refused, and on July 16, Luaces allegedly took a spray can filled with pesticide and doused the nest, killing the baby chicks and destroying another egg, Purcell said.

“This was the second family of birds that had lived in the nest, and the employees had grown attached to it,” Purcell said. “They were feeding the birds strawberries and other things.”

Gary Kraemer, Luaces' attorney, argued that the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office had not presented sufficient evidence to the grand jury and because of that, the indictment should be dismissed.

"There has to be some evidence that the bird was poisoned," Kraemer said. "It was presented in a way that leads the grand jury to infer that it (the herbicide spray) was poisonous to the bird."

Kraemer said the weed killer Luaces is alleged to have used was non-toxic for birds and other animals.

Assistant Prosecutor Peter Roby countered that while the herbicide was found to be safe on full-grown birds, the manufacturer's safety data sheet does not say anything about it being safe for just hatched birds or bird eggs.

Continuing his point that there is no definitive proof that the bird was poisoned, Kraemer said that an autopsy or a necropsy of the bird was never conducted and that when witnesses allegedly saw the bird struggling to live in the nest, it could have been caused by other factors.

"A hawk could have flown down and nicked the bird, injuring it and that's what they saw," Kraemer said.

Roby contended that presenting the grand jury with evidence that witnesses observed Luaces putting down the chemical sprayer in the DPW shop combined with comments he made to witnesses about a bird growing three heads because it got sprayed with the chemicals and that the birds were cute but "had to go," was sufficient to obtain an indictment.

Judge Scott Bennion agreed saying the threshold for a judge to dismiss an indictment is very high and that he felt the prosecution had presented enough evidence to the grand jury.

Bennion said whether the spray Luaces allegedly used was lethal to birds would have to be argued before a jury at a trial and it was not for him or a grand jury to decide.

According to Bennion -- who outlined the facts in the case -- Luaces is alleged to have sprayed weed killer around the West Milford Department of Public Works yard on July 16, 2015, and on a robin's nest located behind a garage, which at the time of the spraying contained three unhatched eggs and one baby bird.

On July 17, 2015, DPW workers allegedly noticed a dead bird in the nest along with the three unhatched eggs and then relocated the nest with the eggs and alleged dead bird to a protected area of the DPW yard, the motion says.

Three weeks later, on Aug. 5, 2015, two DPW employees complained of the incident to police and when police went to investigate found the nest, but not eggs, birds or mother robin.

Luaces, of Byram, served on the Byram Township Council from January 2012 until his resignation in February 2014.

In a statement to the New Jersey Herald regarding his resignation, he said he was doing so because he was "embarking on a new career endeavor" that did not leave him time to dedicate himself to the people of Byram.

Though originally just suspended, Luaces was terminated from his West Milford position in August 2015.

Following the judge's decision, Kraemer said he and Luaces were disappointed in the outcome as they still felt the evidence presented did not prove Luaces killed a bird.

"There is still not one iota of evidence that the spray is harmful to birds," Kraemer said.

Roby declined to comment.

Luaces will return to court on Feb. 13 for a pre-trial conference.

(New Jersey Herald - Jan 20, 2017)

Earlier:

• Is this the most hated man in New Jersey right now? Carlos Luaces allegedly killed baby birds that co-workers had become attached to, with bug spray
• Former West Milford DPW, Carlos Luaces, charged with poisoning bird's nest may be offered plea bargain

Colorado: Bighorn rams his ‘rival’ - his own reflection in store window

COLORADO -- Christian Addie was on his lunch break from his job at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge this week when he and some coworkers began watching some bighorn sheep that have been wandering into Glenwood Springs over the last several days.

Addie, who is more used to seeing the sheep in nearby Glenwood Canyon, was shooting video of them from a balcony off the breakroom when he saw a ram bump a ground-floor window at the nearby Hotel Colorado.

“He bumped the window a couple of times,” Addie said, and he and a coworker began speculating that the ram was seeing his reflection and trying to defend his ewes.

The next thing Addie knew, the ram threw his head forward and smashed the window, before recoiling at the surprise of breaking glass and running off, seemingly uninjured.

The door glass is the entryway to Blue Sky Adventures, which occupies space at the Hotel Colorado. Luckily the rafting and bike shuttle and rental company is closed for the season, so no one was inside.

Plywood now covers the door. Geoffrey Olson, a partner in Blue Sky Adventures, says while the incident was unusual, it’s all part of living with wildlife.

“I remember probably seven years ago when a bear went through the hotel. And there’s a wild turkey that lives right up the road here. We live in the mountains, right, so stuff happens,” he said.

Despite the incident, Olson, who lives outside of town, said he’s not too worried about the presence of the sheep in town.

“It’s not that big a deal. I’m more worried about the mountain lions that were on my porch about three years ago when I came home.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Mike Porras said while wildlife occasionally roam into communities, Glenwood Springs residents should be aware that the sheep currently are in their rutting season.

“It’s important to keep your distance because they’re a little unpredictable right now,” he said.

He said people can be tempted to get too close to wildlife out of curiosity and a desire to see the animals.

Ashley Padgett, front office manager at the Best Western Antlers hotel a few blocks away, said the sheep have been coming down to the hotel property. She said they’re fun to watch, and people have worked to try to herd them way from the roadside when they get too close to U.S. Highway 6, where the hotel is located.

“Otherwise we just let them be,” said Padgett, who said she’s not worried about them breaking glass at the hotel.

“Our windows are actually pretty high off the ground so we don’t have any issues,” she said.

Olson noted that the timing of the window damage at the Hotel Colorado comes as the Glenwood Hot Springs is under contract to buy the historic hotel.

“They are going to be do a complete remodel of the hotel starting in two months. … We can leave the plywood up, I guess,” he said.

Video clip "Bighorn sheep breaks glass door"


(The Daily Sentinel - Dec 8, 2016)

Ohio: Grand Rapids man, Robert Freeworth, 36, indicted on 16 criminal counts after wildlife investigation

OHIO -- The wheels of justice often seem to grind along at barely a crawl, but hunters, conservationists, and the law-abiding general public will be pleased to learn that the net is closing around a large group of offenders alleged to have been engaging in extensive criminal activity that included poaching white-tailed deer and the illegal sale of venison and sport-caught walleyes.

At least 20 individuals from the Toledo area are among a group of defendants that could eventually include more than 40 people in 10 counties who were nabbed as part of a long-term investigation called Operation North Coast. Many aspects of the investigation are still ongoing.

Last week, state wildlife officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife arrested Robert Mandon Freeworth, 36, of Grand Rapids, Ohio. He was indicted by a Wood County grand jury on nine felony and seven misdemeanor counts.

The felony counts facing Freeworth include the sales of wildlife, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, having weapons under disability, three counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, two counts of tampering with records, and the aggravated possession of drugs. Freeworth is charged with misdemeanors for allegedly jacklighting for deer, using weapons while intoxicated on two occasions, hunting without permission of the landowner, and three additional wildlife violations.

If he is convicted on the charges, Freeworth will face possible incarceration, along with significant fines, financial restitution for the wildlife involved, community control sanctions, the reimbursement of the costs of the investigation and the forfeiture of firearms and a vehicle. The felonies could result in the court imposing maximum penalties of up to a year in prison and $2,500 fines in each case, while the misdemeanors could result in jail time from 30-180 days and fines from $250 to $1,000.

There could also be substantial penalties for any trophy-class white-tailed deer that were taken by any of the individuals charged in the case, since the Ohio Revised Code now calls for determining the dollar value of such deer by measuring the antlers and using a formula to consider the value the general public derives from wildlife. In a 2011 case, a Logan County man was required to pay $23,816.59 in restitution for illegally taking a trophy buck.

The initial sweep in the Operation North Coast case resulted in the seizure of more than 100 deer trophy mounts, firearms, “thousands of pounds” of venison, antlers, fish, at least one vehicle, as well as deer tags and cell phones.

The charges against Freeworth, and the many other defendants, were the result of an investigation that focused on a wide corridor of northern Ohio along Lake Erie and involved more than 45 law enforcement officers, the extensive execution of search warrants, the seizure of game and equipment, and interviews with more than three dozen suspects and other individuals. A wide sweep conducted in March hit locations from the Cleveland area to Grand Rapids with search warrants and resulted in the seizure of more than 100 deer trophy mounts, firearms, venison, antlers, fish, and at least one vehicle.

Many of those charged in the case are from Wood County. “The indictment demonstrates the seriousness of wildlife crimes and commercialization that was taking place in the Wood County area,” said Ken Fitz, law enforcement administrator for the Division of Wildlife. The Wood County prosecutor’s office has been collaborating with state wildlife investigators on the wide-reaching case.

“The investigation was well executed and prepared, which is a testament to the ODNR investigative unit in making sure rules and regulations are followed by all,” said Gwen Howe-Gebers, assistant prosecuting attorney in Wood County. “The cases demonstrate that those who hunt illegally need to be held accountable for their actions.”

Also charged in the case is Robert V. Freeworth, 59, of Grand Rapids, Ohio, with two counts of aiding another in a wildlife violation. He is the father of Robert Mandon Freeworth.

Both have shown a disregard for wildlife laws over the years. They both have prior wildlife violation arrests: Robert Mandon Freeworth for an overlimit on yellow perch in October, 2015, and for trapping muskrats in a closed season in 1997; and Robert V. Freeworth for hunting/​taking/​shooting deer from a roadway or motor vehicle in December, 2000.

Thus far, including Freeworth, 28 people have been charged in the Operation North Coast investigation.

Wood County residents who have been charged, or those charged in Wood County, include:

•    Ronnie Borders, 34, Weston: deer check-in violation (in Bowling Green Municipal Court).
•    Rick Bruielly, 66, Weston: Fail to keep and maintain proper taxidermy records. (This case, in Bowling Green Municipal Court, resulted in a $100 fine and $145 in court costs).
•    Robert V. Freeworth, 59, Grand Rapids: two counts of aiding another in a wildlife violation (one count in Napoleon Municipal Court which has been finished, resulting in a $500 fine, plus an additional $156 in court costs, as well as a three-year hunting and fishing license suspension. The other count in Wood County is pending, according to the release).
•    Rodney Hall, 44, Bowling Green: purchase wild animal or part thereof (Bowling Green Municipal Court).
•    Dawn Large, 42, Grand Rapids: no hunting license, hunting without permission (Bowling Green Municipal Court); hunting deer with aid of motor vehicle, shooting from or across a roadway, possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (Napoleon Municipal Court).
•    Shawn Matthews, 34, Grand Rapids: purchase wild animal or part thereof (Bowling Green Municipal Court).
•    Robert Parker Jr, 64, Portage: purchase wild animal or part thereof (Bowling Green Municipal Court).
•    Jo Sears, 62, Bowling Green: purchase wild animal or part thereof (Bowling Green Municipal Court).
•    William Seyfried, 70, Gibsonburg: purchase wild animal or part thereof (Bowling Green Municipal Court).
•    Jarod Sinning, 39, Bowling Green: two counts of purchase wild animal or part thereof (Bowling Green Municipal Court).

•    Cyndal Waldvogel, 30, Grand Rapids: purchase of a wild animal or part thereof (Maumee Municipal Court. This case has been completed, according to the release, resulting in a $35 fine and $130 court costs).

Full Name: Robert Mandon Freeworth
Date: 08/04/2016
Arrest Age: 36
Gender: Male
Charges:
#1 TAMPERING W/ RECORDS - FALSIFY, DESTROY, REMOVE
#2 TAMPERING W/ RECORDS - FALSIFY, DESTROY, REMOVE
#3 DRUG ABUSE - POSSESSION OF COCAINE
#4 IMPROPERLY DISCHARGING FIREARM OCCUPIED STRU
#5 HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY - DRUG RELATED CONVI
#6 IMPROPERLY HANDLING FIREARMS IN MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORT LOAD
#7 USING WEAPONS WHILE INTOXICATED
#8 IMPROPERLY HANDLING FIREARMS IN MOTOR VEHICLE - DISCHARGE FI
#9 IMPROPERLY HANDLING FIREARMS IN MOTOR VEHICLE
#10 ENGAGING IN PATTERN OF CORRUPT ACTIVITY - CONDUCT, PARTICIPA
#11 FISHING LICENSE VIOLATION
#12 FISHING LICENSE VIOLATION
#13 SELLING WILD ANIMALS W/VALUE OVER $1,000
#14 SELLING WILD ANIMALS W/VALUE OVER $1,000
#15 SELLING WILD ANIMALS W/VALUE OVER $1,000
#16 SELLING WILD ANIMALS W/VALUE OVER $1,000

(BCSN - Aug 12, 2016)

Florida: James Massengale Jr., 47, tried to take a ride on a manatee. Then he took a ride to jail

FLORIDA -- A man trying to take a ride on a manatee instead got a ride to the Monroe County jail Friday in Islamorada.

James Roy Massengale Jr., 47, apparently homeless, remained in custody at press time under a $25,000 bond, mostly for refusing to cooperate with Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies or Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.

FWC Officer Courtney Baumgartner went to the Islamorada Library Beach, a small park off mile marker 81.5, around noon Friday when witnesses reported that a man in a creek was touching two adult manatees and their two calves.

It’s against the law to molest manatees.

A witness advised the defendant that making contact with manatees was against the law, but the man reportedly declared, “I’m riding it!”

Baumgartner reported seeing Massengale “reaching for, touching, and lying over top manatees in the creek.”

Massengale denied being warned away from the protected marine mammal and became “verbally combative,” FWC Officer Bobby Dube, an agency spokesman, said. “A short time later, [Massengale] changed his story and admitted he did talk to the witness, but ‘wasn’t going to stop until someone with a badge’ told him to.”

 

Although the FWC officer planned to give Massengale a notice to appear in court on the misdemeanor manatee violation, the defendant “continuously chanted ‘Take me to jail’ ”and said he would not show up for his case.

He then was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office. During booking, Massengale was placed in isolation for refusing to provide identification information.

(Bradenton.com - Sept 21, 2016)

Washington: Abandoned seal pup dies after woman carries it from the beach to her home in shopping bag 'to take care of it'

WASHINGTON -- A harbor seal pup was recently euthanized by wildlife officials in Washington state after it was carried off a beach by a woman who mistakenly thought the seal had been abandoned, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

The incident happened this May when a woman saw the seal pup on a beach near Westport, Washington, and carried it away in a recyclable shopping tote, NOAA public affairs officer Michael Milstein told ABC News today.

"She then took it home and realized she really didn't know what to do for it or how to take care of it," he said. "She later called the local aquarium, Westport Aquarium, which is part of our network of volunteers."

The aquarium's director, Marc Myrsell, told ABC News today that when he saw the seal on the woman's deck, it was "alive but extremely lethargic."

"Usually these animals will snap and struggle to get away if you try to approach them, but this pup was so lethargic," Myrsell said. "Putting him in the carrier to take him to a center was like picking up a sleeping human baby."

He said he and officials with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife originally hoped to return the pup to the beach where the woman had found it. However, it was "unfortunately so unresponsive, and so much time had gone by" that they decided the most humane thing to do would be to euthanize it.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for additional information.

Though the incident happened in May, the pup's tragic story only recently started getting attention after the NOAA issued a news release this week reminding local residents of an "increasing alarming spate of similar incidents," according to Milstein.

Westport Aquarium

"The best thing people can do to help marine mammals on the beach is to leave them alone, staying 100 yards away, if possible," the NOAA said in the news release. "Disturbing, feeding or attempting to move young seals or other marine mammals is illegal because it can stress the animals, interfere with their natural behavior and cause adult seals to abandon their pups."

Milstein told ABC News today that typically "there are only about six to 10 illegal seal pickup cases a year in the Oregon-Washington area," but there have already been at least four known incidents this year.

"The decision to euthanize an animal is one that we do not take lightly at all," said Kristin Wilkinson, a regional stranding coordinator for the NOAA's West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

She said that in the case of this seal pup, it was in such bad condition that its chances of survival were extremely low.

She added that rehabilitation centers are often full and that wildlife officers have to make tough decisions about how many animals can be accepted. Typically, pups assessed to have a higher likelihood of survival are ones that are taken into rehab centers, she said.

"We're very passionate about marine mammals, so of course we all want to see them survive in the wild," Wilkinson said. "We only resort to euthanization if the situation becomes so dire that it would be the most humane thing to do."

(ABC News - June 30, 2016)

063016-sealWA-1

Vermont: Police perform CPR on newborn deer to save its life; VT Fish & Wildlife then kill it

VERMONT -- According to the Milton Police Department in Vermont, an expectant mother deer was hit by a car and died, but officers were able to save the baby deer born on the side of the road.

Officer Bosworth and Sgt. Locke performed a version of CPR on the newborn deer and were able to save the animal. Unfortunately two other fawns were found dead prior to police arriving at the scene.

The Milton Police Department shared a post on Facebook detailing what happened and the post has since gone viral.

"It's not every day you get to save a new born baby deer! Outstanding work today by Officer Bosworth and Sgt. Locke. Unfortunately, a female deer was believed to have been hit by a vehicle today on Duffy Road near Mars Hollow. Upon arrival of Officer Bosworth and Sgt. Locke they noticed the mother deer had also delivered 2 baby deer. Unfortunately, these 2 baby deer were also deceased upon the officers arrival. However, by quick actions of the officers a 3rd baby deer was quickly removed from the mother deer by the officers.

"Officer Bosworth and Sgt. Locke preformed a modified version of CPR on the baby deer and were able to save it!!!! They then rushed the baby deer to Milton Veterinarian Hospital where it is currently being cared for and doing well!!!

"At this point the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife was contacted and has jurisdiction over what happens to the deer.

"Again, outstanding work to Officer Bosworth and Sgt. Locke."

SAD, INFURIATING UPDATE TO STORY: 
"It was a heartwarming rescue with a heartbreaking ending. The fawn rescued by Milton Police Department this afternoon was euthanized by Vermont Fish & Wildlife PER DEPARTMENT POLICY."

 

RIP baby deer. VT Fish & Wildlife couldn't wait to kill you.

(Fox 35 Orlando - June 3, 2016)

Tennessee: Brian Schrimsher, 23, charged with killing wildlife without a license (poaching)

TENNESSEE -- I couldn't find anything other than the booking/arrest information.

Name: Brian Eugene Schrimsher

Address: Lynnville, Tennessee 38472

Race: White

Sex: Male

Height: 6'02"

Weight: 185 lbs

Hair Color: BROWN

Eye Color: GREEN

Age at arrest: 23

Date of arrest: 04/18/2016

Arresting agency: Giles County Sheriff's Department, TN

Total Bond: $1,000

Charges:

• #1 Illegal Possession of Wildlife
• #2 Hunting without a license
• #3 Hunting without a license
• #4 Failure To Appear

PREVIOUS ARREST:

Date of arrest: 01/06/2016

Inmate Classification: PRE FELON

Total Bond: $20,000

Charges:

• #1 Forgery (Offense date: 10/02/2015) - Bond $5,000
• #2 Forgery (Offense date: 12/03/2015) - Bond $5,000
• #3 Forgery (Offense date: 11/13/2015) - Bond $5,000
• #4 Forgery (Offense date: 11/20/2015) - Bond $5,000

Tennessee: Crystal Murray, 30, charged with something involving wildlife

TENNESSEE -- OK, this is an odd one. She has been charged with a "prohibited act" involving "exotic wildlife"... What does that mean? I couldn't find anything other than the booking/arrest information.

Name: Crystal Murray
DOB: 04/06/1985
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age at arrest: 30
Date of arrest: 03/18/2016
Arresting agency: Shelby County TN
Total Bond: $1,000
Charges:

• #1 DRIVING U/INFLUENCE INTOX/DRUGS
• #2 PROHIBITED ACT/EXOTIC WILDLIFE
• #3 IMPROPER LANE CHANGING

New York: Simone Saracino, 62, accused of starving, torturing animals

NEW YORK -- A Staten Island man who ran an illegal trapping business was arrested for animal cruelty after he left several raccoons in a cage to die of starvation, authorities said.

Simone Saracino, 62, allegedly trapped the critters back on Aug. 1 and let them slowly suffer for more than 96 torturous hours without food or water.

After most of the animals died, Saracino strapped the wire cage to the roof of his vehicle and transported them in inclement weather to an Animal Care and Control facility on Aug. 4.

Officials at AC&C, which is contracted by the city to handle all stray animals, contacted authorities after Saracino showed up on Aug. 4 at the Staten Island shelter with a cage containing dead baby raccoons, sources said.

A necropsy showed they had died due to heat stroke after being left in the trap for several days without food and water.

Saracino, who does not have a license to handle wildlife, was charged with one count of torturing, injuring and not feeding animals and one count carrying animals in a cruel manner — both misdemeanor charges.

He was arrested Friday and given a desk appearance ticket.

A woman who answered the phone at Saracino’s Richmond County Hunting, Trapping, & Game Service said “we’re not interested” before hanging up.

(NY Post - Feb 15, 2016)

Texas: Animal control officer rescues skunk which got its head stuck in a dumpster

TEXAS -- An animal control offer managed to save a skunk in Freeport that had gotten into a sticky situation.

The Freeport Police Department posted photos of the skunk that got its head stuck in a dumpster. Animal control was called and the animal control officer managed to free the little guy without hurting it or herself.

 

She also managed to avoid getting sprayed while bringing the skunk to freedom.

(ABC13 - Jan 13, 2016)

Caledonia officer helps wayward beaver find new home

WISCONSIN -- A Caledonia police officer got a furry surprise on a call Wednesday near Johnson Park.

“It was the last thing I’d thought I’d see,” Officer Andrew Gelden said. “But there it was: a beaver in the roadway.”

Gelden was dispatched just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, when the department received a call about a beaver “hanging out” in the middle of 3 Mile Road just east of Johnson Park. A self-professed animal person, Gelden arrived on the scene, scooped up the beaver and put it in the back of his squad car.

The beaver did not appear to be injured, according to Gelden, and he quickly located a new home for the critter.

“I know they like water, and so I moved it over by a pond,” Gelden said.

Thanks Officer Andrew Gelden!

Gelden said the beaver was very calm, and after he set it down near the pond, it “just kind of sat there” looking at him for a while.

In all, Gelden said it took him five minutes to get the beaver to safety.

(Journal Times - Dec 21, 2015)

“He was really vicious:” Elderly husband & wife rushed to the hospital after squirrel attack

CALIFORNIA -- An elderly couple in California was attacked by a squirrel that got into their garage. The battle with the animal sent the man and woman to the hospital.

87-year-old Richard Williams was doing chores in his garage when a squirrel entered — through the open garage door.

 

“All of the sudden, he charged me and jumped, and from then on, the battle started,” Richard Williams said.

The struggle got bloody fast.

“He was really vicious. He was clawing and scratching and I was trying to get him off. And I finally, every time I’d get him off, he’d jump back up again,” Williams said.

The squirrel tore Williams’ head, arms and legs, and his glasses were smashed.
 

  

  

 

“Norma heard me screaming,” Richard Williams said.

“I grabbed the broom and picked it up and I guess I hit the squirrel with it,” Norma Williams said.

“Then he jumped her. I was able to grab him by the tail, and I threw him on the garage floor and he seemed stunned,” Richard Williams said.

“He’s lost most of his breath and he collapsed over the hood of his car,” Norma Williams said.

 

A neighbor rushed Richard and Norma Williams to the hospital.

The husband and wife received dozens of shots, including vaccines for rabies and tetanus.

The same squirrel is suspected in five other attacks in two weeks. A teacher and student were attacked at an elementary school.

 

“It was just out of the blue!” Norma Williams said.

It could be that the squirrel has been fed, and it’s not afraid of people.

Humane Society officials say they posted warning flyers near the hot spots where this squirrel has attacked.

(Fox6 - Dec 5, 2015)