Wildlife
Blotter
10/05/09
5:00
pm - Call received from Youngstown
police concerning raccoon in recycle bin.
Upon arrival, Wild Kritters found the
raccoon in the recycle bin, not looking
too happy. Wild Kritters removed the recycle
bin from the property owner’s garage.
Raccoon jumped out of bin and onto driveway.
Raccoon was resistant to capture. It took
WK Personnel several attempts to net the
angry suspect and cage him. Suspect raccoon
was removed from property and transported
to Wild Kritters holding center for observation
and release.
5:45
pm - Call received from City
of Niagara Falls citizen concerning furry,
ugly animal in trash can. Complainant
was questioned via telephone by WK personnel
for description. Complainant could not
give description other than a large furry,
ugly animal that she captured in her trash
can, with lid secured. Upon arrival, WK
personnel discovered an opossum in trash
can. Removing the lid, tipping over the
can and using a broom to encourage the
animals exit, WK sent the opossum scurrying
off to the backyard of the complainant.
10:30
pm - Call received from Niagara
Falls Police dispatch concerning a raccoon
with its head stuck a jar at the Budget
Inn, Niagara Falls Blvd. Upon arrival,
Wild Kritters found the Niagara Falls
Police had already removed the raccoon
from the jar. Raccoon was last seen heading
North, crossing Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Another instance of our law enforcement
going above and beyond the call of duty.
10/06/09
9:00
pm - Call received from Niagara
Falls Police dispatch concerning squirrel
caught in a trap that was wedged in a
chain link fence. While in route to the
call, WK personnel swerved to miss an
opossum crossing the road. Unfortunately,
the vehicle clipped the opossum. WK personnel
stopped to rescue the animal, finding
it uninjured, but stunned from the shock
of the near miss. Opossum administered
immediate care before being placed in
carrier, and WK personnel continued on
with original call.
Upon
arrival, WK personnel discovered squirrel
with hip caught in trap and leg wrapped
around chain link fence. The squirrel’s
rear leg was almost completely ripped
off from the trap. Further observation
indicated that the squirrel had been in
the trap for awhile, as the bleeding had
stopped and maggot larvae had already
developed. With great care, WK personnel
removed the squirrel from the trap, coaxed
it through the chain link fence and into
a carrier for transport to WK observation
center for medical care and release. WK
personnel found no Trap ID on the trap.
UPDATE ON ANIMALS CONDITION. The opossum
fortunately survived it’s near hit
and was released back to the wild.
Unfortunately,
the squirrel, due to his injuries and
the length of time it was caught in the
trap, did not survive.
Attached is the picture of the suspect
surrendering to authorities on July 4th
in Clinton Park, where he was hiding in
the bushes, thin and dehydrated after
a heinous crime spree.
Winged
and dangerous, he allegedly kidnapped
and dismembered two baby bunnies, six
sparrows who fell out of their nest and
yes, even the partridge in the pear tree.
A stool pigeon ratted him out but not
before he devoured an unknown quantity
of mice with a street value of 50 cents
each.
This
youngster belongs to a vicious group of
predators known as the Red-Shouldered
Hawks. He is held without bail and will
be released only after he is thoroughly
rehabilitated by a Master Falconer.
As
an adult, he will stand 18-24 inches tall
with a wingspan of four feet.
Many
thanks to the ladies at First Presbyterian
Church who found him.
