Washington: Couple sues wildlife officials for taking pet raccoon

WASHINGTON -- A West Seattle couple is suing the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for seizing their pet raccoon.

"She's part of our family. She doesn't know any different. Since her eyes were open we have been her mom and dad," Kellie Greer said.

Kellie and her husband, Chris, started caring for Mae as a newborn. Kellie found her at a park with her eyes still closed, smaller than the size of her fist. She saw a dead adult raccoon nearby and assumed that was the baby's mother.

The couple tried calling all available wildlife rehab centers, but to no avail. No one would take Mae. According to the lawsuit, Wolftown on Vashon Island agreed to let the couple become a "sub-permitee" if they agreed to follow rules like keeping Mae on a leash when outside and building an outdoor enclosure.

However, Wolftown closed a few years ago and that means the permit is no longer valid.

It's been seven years, and Mae is now part of the family. She is potty-trained with a litter box, walks on leash, has a special hammock outside and even goes camping with the Greers. The couple has also been taking the raccoon to an exotic animal vet in Bothell for the last seven years, sometimes twice a year.

"You have to fill the bath tub so she can play with water and her toys. The cat won't jump in the bathtub. Mae needs that," Chris said.

The couple says they never knew they were doing anything wrong. They never tried to hide Mae who became a part of their neighborhood. They also crossed paths many times with law enforcement and never received any complaints, they say.

"For most every time the Greers went camping with Mae during white-tailed deer season in October/November from 2010 through 2016, inclusive, WDFW game wardens observed the Greers with Mae when asking them to produce tags for fish and wildlife taken during those trips.

Instead of citing, threatening to cite, warning, or otherwise admonishing the Greers against keeping her, the wardens fawned over her, took pictures with her, and, thus, encouraged the Greers to continue keeping the clearly tamed and human-friendly raccoon.

When at the campground, Mae was in a harness and always under control, never constituting a nuisance," the lawsuit reads.

A recent camping trip changed everything.

A WDFW officer spotted Mae and took information from the Greers. Then last Sunday, another officer showed up at their West Seattle home and took Mae.

"I thought he was there to investigate. I never thought he would take her," Kellie cried. "I'm supposed to work 10 to 5 and I've been working 9 to 8 because I don't want to be at home. She is so much a part of my life. I get up in the morning and kiss her and scratch her head."

 

 

WDFW found a rehab center in Quilcene to take Mae as an education animal, but the couple's attorney argues the Greers have a legal right to keep Mae. She's no longer wild, they say, and after seven years the Greers own her.

WDFW sent KING the following statement:

"On November 26th, a WDFW Enforcement officer seized a raccoon from Mr. and Mrs. Greer as it is illegal for the public to possess live wildlife in Washington without a valid permit. The raccoon was transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center where it received medical care and was held until today, when it was transported to another rehabilitation center and will be held under their permit for education purposes.

"While we understand that the family is upset by the loss, the department has no permit that would allow for the personal possession of wildlife as a pet, so we are therefore pleased that have been able to locate a rehabilitation center that is willing to hold the animal.

"An attorney for the Greer family has filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive release against the state, seeking the return of the raccoon to the family. Because of the lawsuit, the department is unable to provide any further comment at this time."

The raccoon's seizure comes just a couple weeks after three fawns and an elk calf were taken from a Rochester wildlife rehab and killed, sparking a mass public outcry.

In that case, the animals were scheduled for release in the spring but WDFW said the animals were too habituated to humans. For the Greers, Mae belongs at home with them.

"I feel like I failed her. I've provided care her entire life," Kellie said.

"She's imprinted on us. She's part of our family and her pack is at home," Chris added.

The Greers have set up a fundraising page to help bring Mae home.

YouCaring: Bring Mae Home
For: Mae, Kellie, and Chris Greer
Seattle, WA
Organizer: Adam Karp
$3,000 of $5,000 goal. Raised by 87 donors

Kellie and Chris Greer of West Seattle filed suit against the State of Washington and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Thurston County Superior Court, No. 17-2-06464-34, seeking the return of Mae, an orphaned raccoon they saved in 2010 and with whom she has lived for over seven years only to be seized by WDFW on November 26, 2017. To read the Complaint and other filings as they unfold in the civil litigation, go to www.facebook.com/groups/bringmaehome.

To assist with the litigative efforts, donations are sought. However, they are not tax deductible, not refundable, and provide no right to information about, or to control, the case. Nor do they create an attorney-client relationship. However, the pleadings are public record and may be shared on the Bring Mae Home page.

Your donation will help the Greers in their legal efforts to bring Mae home. Funds will aid in paying litigation expenses, such as filing fees, service fees, depositions, expert fees, and attorney's fees. We are ever so grateful for your compassion.

Unused funds will be donated to a 501c3 animal-related nonprofit(s) in the discretion of Adam P. Karp.

(WTSP - Dec 9, 2017)

Related:

• Facebook group "Bring Mae Home"
• The lawsuit filed by the Greers

(November 2017) Washington: Wildlife officers doing what they seem to love doing -- seizing and killing orphaned wildlife

WASHINGTON -- A wildlife rehabilitation facility in Rochester was reeling Monday after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife seized three baby deer and an elk.

The animals were euthanized, because officials say they'd gotten too used to humans.

One photo WDFW shared with KING 5 shows a fawn sucking on a person's ear. State officials call it a pattern at For Heaven's Sake Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation. Several young deer and an elk were all too comfortable around humans, they claim.

  Rescued only to be killed by WDFW

Rescued only to be killed by WDFW

In a press release sent Monday, WDFW wrote that "state regulations and national wildlife rehabilitation standards direct wildlife managers to euthanize habituated animals rather than release them into the wild."

"The situation at the Rochester facility could have been avoided if the rehabilitators had limited human contact with the animals, weaned them sooner, and released them into the wild in accordance with state guidelines," said WDFW Wildlife Program Assistant Director Eric Gardner, in the release.

But the allegations are not true, if you ask the woman who runs the facility.

"All the fencing covered with tarp so they can't see us," Claudia Supensky pointed out.

Supensky showed KING 5 the area where the deer and elk live, designed to reduce wildlife interaction with humans. No one is allowed to treat the animals like pets, she says.

WDFW coming to kill animals...

That's why she was shocked to learn a summer intern told the state exactly that, and after a few visits, state officials showed up with a trailer to seize the animals. They took three fawn and one elk.

"Just blew my mind. I couldn't believe they could just come in and take them," she said.

WDFW says wildlife is state property and the law requires any wildlife to be removed if it loses its fear of humans. They point to photos of the animals lingering around officers.

"What we saw were animals that were very used to humans, came up to the people that entered the pen, looking to be fed.The elk head-butted one of our staff," Gardner said.

WDFW killers pretending they love wildlife

Gardner called it a tough decision, but a necessary one. Deer and elk that grow accustomed to humans have a harder time surviving in the wild and can also be a danger to humans. He says they're normally released prior to winter, and the organization's plan to keep the animals until spring is atypical.

Supensky disagrees. She says some of the animals just needed more time to learn wild behaviors after weeks of being bottle fed. It's common practice for them, she says, to keep deer over winter to give them a better chance at survival and no one has yet to tell them it's bad practice. She also questions why the animals needed to be darted and tranquilized for loading onto WDFW's trailer if they trusted humans so much.

Left with little word about what would happen to her facility, Supensky didn't even know that the four animals seized were euthanized KILLED until KING5 told her Monday.

"They were? This is the most awful thing I've ever experienced in my life," she cried.

THE TRAILER OF DEATH:

Despicable WDFW officials using an apple to lead

these innocent animals to their death

WDFW is hoping to place some of the remaining deer in a research study at Washington State University.

They also hope to use this experience as a learning lesson for the public. Many young ungulates taken to rehab facilities are mistakenly removed from their mothers by people who assume the animals are abandoned. If found, wild animals should always be left alone while appropriate authorities are called.

"It's really unfortunate that something didn't go right this time. None of us like being where we're at. It's not a pleasant situation for any of us. We really hope we can continue to work with our rehabbers and provide the service we all want them to provide which is to recover these animals and get them released back to the wild," Gardner said.

WDFW won't let For Heaven's Sake take any more deer and elk, but the group decided to stop taking all new wildlife because they're so worried the state might seize more.

"We know for a fact that given the time, these animals could've been released. To take them and kill them, healthy animals we've put all the time and work into?" Supenksy said. "This is a matter of being killed before they were given the time to be released. My heart is so sick and so sad."

The Supenskys also told The Chronicle that the deer were so frightened by approaching WDFW officers that they fled to the nearby woods and eventually had to be lured with apples and then shot with tranquilizer darts in order to be rounded up. The Supenskys claim that in all their years working with animals they have never failed to successfully release a deer back into the wild.

"WDFW did not provide (For Heaven’s Sake) and these slain fawns and calf the opportunity to reach physical, behavioral, and psychological capability for release before seizing and euthanizing them,” Karp was quoted as saying in a press release from A Soft Place to Land.

Glaze says that the heavy-handed action at For Heaven’s Sake is not the first time that the WDFW has unfairly targeted animals at rehabilitation centers for lethal action despite other non-lethal options being available.

Glaze noted that Dan Boeholt, a property owner near Montesano, had previously offered WDFW the opportunity to relocate the deer onto 65 acres of his land and was disgusted when he found out the animals had instead been euthanized.

Others have taken notice too, including 19th District state Rep. Jim Walsh, who asked in a public Facebook post, "With all of the problems it has, WDFW makes a priority of killing Bambi?" 

(KING5 - Nov 14, 2017)

Washington: Owl recovering after struck by car, rescued by Marysville officer

WASHINGTON -- An owl was rescued Thursday by a Marysville police officer after the bird was struck by a car.

Marysville police said the owl was taken to Sarvey Wildlife to recover.

“Meet our newest cadet, Owl Pacino,” the department said over Twitter. “An officer found him after he was hit by a car & took for a glide along. Wishing him a speedy recovery @SarveyWildlife & we hope he uses a crosswalk nest time.”

(KIRO7 - Dec 2, 2017)

Florida: Theresa Fleming, 63, charged with illegally possessing wildlife

Full Name: Theresa Angel-Marie Fleming-Geiger
Alias: Theresa Fleming, Theresa Fleming-Geiger, Theresa Geiger, Theresa Evans
Address: 17348 10th Terrace, Live Oak, Florida 32060
Additional address: 923 Pineview Circle SW, Live Oak, Florida 32064
Race: White
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 02/21/1954
Arrest Age: 63
Arrest Date: 10/09/2017
Arresting Agency: Suwannee County Sheriff's Office
Charges
#1 FTA O/C POSS OF CAPTIVE
#2 WILDLIFE W/OUT PERMIT X3

What I could see of her LinkedIn profile, she says she is a wildlife rehabilitator so it may be that she was trying to save an animal that she didn't have a permit for.

Florida: Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy takes baby squirrels to wildlife rehabilitator

FLORIDA -- Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook September 25, 2017 ·

Squirrel Rescue - OCSO Deputy Michael Esneul located these 3 baby squirrels in the closet at our Baker Substation. They were found in a small hole just above the hot water heater.

Deputy Esneul was able to make arrangements with Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge to take these babies in for safe keeping after "Momma Squirrel" could not be located.

Wisconsin: Fawn rescued from drowning in family’s water fountain in Waukesha County

WISCONSIN -- A baby deer was rescued after it fell into a family’s water fountain in the Village of Chenequa, Waukesha County. It happened Monday, August 14th.

The Wildlife In Need Center (WINC), located in Oconomowoc, says the fountain was deep enough that the fawn was unable to climb out on its own. Thankfully, a police officer came to the rescue “nearly minutes before it drowned.”

The WINC was called to help and asses the fawn’s condition. They say hypothermia and exhaustion were the staff’s main concerns because no one was sure how long the fawn had been stuck and struggling in the fountain.

Staff quickly wrapped her in dry towels and bedding to begin the warming process. She was also given warm subcutaneous fluids to help her body recover.

Staff with the WINC massaged the fawn’s body to aid in blood flow for over an hour. After she was dry, the fawn was no longer shivering and began moving her legs and looking around.

“Her legs wobbled quite a bit at first as she regained her strength but soon after she slowly wandered back into the nearby forest – most likely to reunite with mom and to bed down to rest,” said WINC. “We want to thank the Dalum family and the very helpful police officers that made this rescue possible!”

The WINC posted a video of the fawn getting back on her feet and roaming back into a wooded area.

An awesome rescue — and story — for everyone involved!

(Fox6Now - August 16, 2017)

Texas: Local officer rescues red-tailed hawk from swimming pool

TEXAS -- A juvenile red-tailed hawk that a local police officer rescued over the weekend has already been released back into the wild after a short recuperation.

Officer Tyler Ziegler, a Lacy Lakeview police officer, rescued the injured bird Saturday from a home Peaceful Drive after a caller reported the bird was floating in a swimming pool.

“I got the call and when I pulled up to the house a boy came out with the bird wrapped in a towel, all wet,” Ziegler said.

“I took it into the woods and dried it off, but it acted like it was injured,” Ziegler said.

He took the bird to the Waco animal shelter where staff notified Rachael Sine, a licensed Texas Wildlife Rehabilitator, who could properly care for the bird.

“It’s already gone,” Sine said Tuesday.

“It came in, stayed a couple of days and we released it back into the wild this (Tuesday) morning,” she said.

Sine said she has a menagerie at her home where she cares for any type of wild animal except eagles, she said.

(KWTX - Aug 1, 2017)

Canada: Officers help rescue injured bear cub from tree using traffic safety vests

CANADA -- Two OPP officers rescued an injured bear by creating a net from traffic safety vests.

The bear cub was injured after being hit by a car near Bracebridge on Highway 11 on Monday. Scared, the cub climbed into a nearby tree.

 

 

Const. Dean Ronson and Const. James Reading found the cub and noticed it was hurt and about to fall.

After slowing traffic in the area and calling “Bear With Us" – a sanctuary that specifically helps bears – they devised a way to catch the animal.

“We went to the trunks of our cars, grabbed our traffic vests, overlaid them,” says Ronson.

 

They figured the vests could help cradle the bear if they couldn’t catch it with their hands.

“We knew it would only be seconds, but we were able to run and get under the tree in time and we positioned the vests,” says Reading.

"She hit the vests the police officers were using as a catch all. I grabbed her then Dr. Trinita Barboza of the national wildlife centre injected her with a sedative," says Mike McIntosh of Bear With Us.

The bear was taken to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary for preliminary treatment.

 

 

X-rays of the cub shows it suffered a broken bone and likely damaged others. The quick action by the officers prevents things from getting worse.

"All of the pieces fell into place and we are very proud to have been part of it," says Reading.

The bear is on its way to the National Wildlife centre in Caledon.

At this point, the bear is expected to make a full recovery, but it will spend the next year at the Bear With Us sanctuary until its mature enough to be released.

 

  

(CTV News - August 1, 2017)

Colorado: Golden Eagle rescued after car wreck on US 24 west of Colorado Springs

COLORADO --  A golden eagle is safe after she was rescued by a Colorado Parks and Wildlife official following a car wreck on US 24 in Teller County.

An official said a juvenile eagle – later identified as a female golden eagle – was resting in a kennel after she was rescued from a car wreck along US 24 in “driving rain.”

Ben Meier, the CPW officer who rescued the eagle, “suspected it was involved in the wreck,” but did not say exactly how.

The eagle was rescued on US 24 west of Divide, the official said.

   

 

(The Denver Channel - July 19, 2017)

(June 2017) Florida: Deputies rescue this sad-looking owl stranded on road

FLORIDA -- An owl stranded on the road, looking all ragged, was rescued Tuesday night by law enforcement officials.

Flagler County deputies Lichty and Smith, with Sgt. Weaver, found the owl on County Road 13, according to the sheriff’s Facebook page.

They think it may have been hit by a car. The sad-looking bird was quickly taken to Flagler County Animal Hospital.

Several people online expressed their thanks for a job well done.

Gerry Ann Wirth wrote: “Thank you to the officers that saved this little guy! I hope he makes it!!”

 

 

  

(Palm Beach Post - June 28, 2017)

Florida: Flagler County deputies save sick owl that had tumbled down embankment and into canal

FLORIDA -- Flagler County Sheriff's Office added 3 new photos to Facebook
July 13, 2017 at 9:55am ·

Late Wednesday evening, Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies rescued an owl on Royal Palms in Palm Coast.

The owl had rolled down the embankment into the canal.

Sgt. Kim Davis, Sgt. Jon Dopp, and Cpl. James Miley were able to grab hold of the owl and take him to Flagler Animal Hospital for treatment.

At FCSO, we serve and protect all of our residents.

That poor owl looks totally out of it. If he was so weak he couldn't even get himself out of the canal, he must've been exhausted. I hope he survives.

 

  

North Carolina: Three-pound baby deer thriving with wildlife rehabilitator

NORTH CAROLINA -- Nancy Whisenant has been rehabilitating wild animals back to health for 25 years.

She's the self-proclaimed "bunny whisperer" and has raised 80 bunnies just this year. However, her newest project is a bit more unique, according to WBTV.

 

 

Last week, Whisenant received a call from Asheville Wildlife Resource Officers stating that a fawn needed care. She's nursed plenty of fawns back to health before, but this one is rare because of its size.

Weighing in at less than three pounds, this is the smallest newborn deer she's ever seen. Most are in the six-pound range.

 

In the week the fawn has been with Whisenant, it's gone from thin and full of maggots to eating and thriving.

It's unknown what happened to the baby deer's mom.

While this is the busiest time of year for cases like this, Whisenant was quick to point out that caring for a wild animal is illegal if you're not licensed in wildlife rehabilitation.

"If they catch you, you will be fined," she said.

And they'll often kill the animal in your possession. :(

(KTVL - July 10, 2017)