I honestly never thought I would say this...
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LadyluvsLuxury
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HOUMedGal
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Kaleigh
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cinnabar
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This story was on our local TV news this week. What she is doing is illegal. It is against the law in Washington state for an unlicensed member of the public to keep any wild animal. This woman is not a licensed rehabilitator. She said she planned to release the squirrel into the wild when it''s big enough to fend for itself. Not only is the squirrel habituated to humans (it was sitting tamely on her shoulder throughout the interview, while she stroked it) it is also habituated to dogs, which should be a squirrel''s natural enemy.
Last I heard, someone reported her to the Fisheries and Wildlife people and she''ll be getting a visit from officers who will tell her she''s doing something really bad. They will also take the squirrel away from her and see if it can be safely released. If not, it will be euthanized
She''s unfortunate in that she lives where she does. Not all states have the same laws, and you can keep all kinds of wild crits for pets in some places. What''s more of a problem is that she wants to release the squirrel, after she''s brought it up against all the rules of wildlife rehabilitation.
Last I heard, someone reported her to the Fisheries and Wildlife people and she''ll be getting a visit from officers who will tell her she''s doing something really bad. They will also take the squirrel away from her and see if it can be safely released. If not, it will be euthanized
She''s unfortunate in that she lives where she does. Not all states have the same laws, and you can keep all kinds of wild crits for pets in some places. What''s more of a problem is that she wants to release the squirrel, after she''s brought it up against all the rules of wildlife rehabilitation.
bling*diva*
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Blue824
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Cinnabar -- Seriously? after all that they''d euthanize the baby squirrel?
You''d think because it is friendly towards humans they could put him/her somewhere like childrens zoo or i know my wildlife center I went to when i was a kid at some nature preserve had areas with a few animals that were more wild. Too bad she went public with that, she could''ve just kept the baby squirrel around and probably no one would''ve known and now it''ll die?
However, for the time being, I''ll block that out of my mind and just think that it is really cute the dog allowed the baby squirrel to do feed from her!
However, for the time being, I''ll block that out of my mind and just think that it is really cute the dog allowed the baby squirrel to do feed from her!
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Date: 10/15/2005 12:21:22 AM
Author: Blue824
Cinnabar -- Seriously? after all that they''d euthanize the baby squirrel?You''d think because it is friendly towards humans they could put him/her somewhere like childrens zoo or i know my wildlife center I went to when i was a kid at some nature preserve had areas with a few animals that were more wild. Too bad she went public with that, she could''ve just kept the baby squirrel around and probably no one would''ve known and now it''ll die?
I hope negative publicity kills the plan before the stupid state can kill the squirrel! It is ridiculous! Squirrels associate with humans all the time! It isn''t as if they were animals seen only in the wild; they are in our parks and on our lawns all the time!
Deborah
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Date: 10/15/2005 11:34:59 AM
Author: Lorelei
That is terrible
There must be somewhere he could go as Blue suggested like a children''s zoo. I echo Deb I hope the negative publicity kills the plan before the Statekills the squirrel
I suppose the mother dog could savage the officer from Fish and Wildlife or whatever, but then they would probably shoot her! I hope the homeowner gets a gun and keeps the Fish and Wildlife thugs off her property! Either that or let her call all the television stations and have them tape the thugs arresting her because she won''t let them take her helpless, baby squirrel. (I would hide the squirrel first to protect him, THEN let herself be arrested!)
Deb, outraged
cinnabar
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It''s only partly about the squirrel being tame around humans. The far more serious issue is that it is now tame around dogs and if a squirrel in the wild is comfortable with dogs, that squirrel is going to get killed pretty soon. Euthanasia is quick and painless; being torn apart by a Doberman isn''t my pick.
I know they''re beautiful cute little animals, but they are wild animals and they''re not suitable as pets. They''re unpredictable and prone to biting, which is why you never see them in petting zoos (apart from the fact they''d escape the minute your back was turned).
There was a story in the news here a month or so ago in which a woman was keeping a mallard duck as a pet. She took it to work with her and bought it "duckie diapers" over the internet. The Fish and Wildlife people went to take the duck off her and were very heavy-handed about it, resulting in a lot of bad publicity. I doubt they''ll be so agressive in future, but they will continue to uphold the law where they consider that a wild animal is being deprived of dignity and a natural life.
The duck was, I believe, returned to the woman on the understanding that she let it live in a duck environment, with a pond; no going to the office, no diapers. You can''t return a squirrel to someone who has been keeping it as a pet, with the same proviso. Not unless she lives in a treehouse in a forest.
I know they''re beautiful cute little animals, but they are wild animals and they''re not suitable as pets. They''re unpredictable and prone to biting, which is why you never see them in petting zoos (apart from the fact they''d escape the minute your back was turned).
There was a story in the news here a month or so ago in which a woman was keeping a mallard duck as a pet. She took it to work with her and bought it "duckie diapers" over the internet. The Fish and Wildlife people went to take the duck off her and were very heavy-handed about it, resulting in a lot of bad publicity. I doubt they''ll be so agressive in future, but they will continue to uphold the law where they consider that a wild animal is being deprived of dignity and a natural life.
The duck was, I believe, returned to the woman on the understanding that she let it live in a duck environment, with a pond; no going to the office, no diapers. You can''t return a squirrel to someone who has been keeping it as a pet, with the same proviso. Not unless she lives in a treehouse in a forest.
LadyluvsLuxury
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WOW who would've thought something so seemingly harmless could turn into such a mess. I hope they do not euthanize the poor thingDate: 10/14/2005 8:05:47 PM
Author: cinnabar
This story was on our local TV news this week. What she is doing is illegal. It is against the law in Washington state for an unlicensed member of the public to keep any wild animal. This woman is not a licensed rehabilitator. She said she planned to release the squirrel into the wild when it's big enough to fend for itself. Not only is the squirrel habituated to humans (it was sitting tamely on her shoulder throughout the interview, while she stroked it) it is also habituated to dogs, which should be a squirrel's natural enemy.
Last I heard, someone reported her to the Fisheries and Wildlife people and she'll be getting a visit from officers who will tell her she's doing something really bad. They will also take the squirrel away from her and see if it can be safely released. If not, it will be euthanized
She's unfortunate in that she lives where she does. Not all states have the same laws, and you can keep all kinds of wild crits for pets in some places. What's more of a problem is that she wants to release the squirrel, after she's brought it up against all the rules of wildlife rehabilitation.
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Why not? I have a fenced in back yard with plenty of trees. The only dog that can get in there is mine. Why couldn't a squirrel live outside, but on my land? In winter if he hadn't gotten enough nuts stored away, I could supplement his food outside. Before rabies spread about 25 years ago, my parents used to feed the wild racoons in the woods behind their house in Connecticut. (Their land wasn't fenced.)
Deborah
movie zombie
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outraged deb, wow, you''re advocating getting a gun! can''t believe it! while i do advocate gun ownership, i think you''re idea of hiding the squirrel and then getting arrested loud and publicly would be the way to go.
bet the woman never goes public again....but she won''t have to: she''ll now be on a ''watch'' list.
peace, movie zombie
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I don't THINK I ever stated I was against gun ownership. (If you can find evidence to the contrary, I will admit my error.) I don't agree that there is no correlation between gun ownerships and death by violence, however. What I dislike is hearing, "Guns don't commit crimes; people commit crimes". That is because I think that there are more deaths due to violence because of the prevelance of guns in the United States.
I do support a ban on assault weapons, as do many police, however.
Deborah
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no, deb, you never said you were against gun ownership but based on the thread re jeb bush and florida gun ownership, i was just surprised to see you adovcating getting a gun to defend a squirrel..... your statement had me laughing ''cause i saw you standing next to charlton heston with your gun saying ''you''ll have to pry this squirrel from my dead fingers" to paraphrase the good NRA member.
peace, movie zombie
sarita
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So sweet and adorable. Never seen this with a squirrel before however I do know it is fairly common for weaning dogs (or other animals, for that matter) to allow/welcome different species of their own to nurse. You see this commonly with a dog nursing a kitten or two in her litter.
I agree that it probably is not best to release the squirrel into the wild after this domestication though I know the owner is only trying to do the right thing. I still see no reason to need to kill it though. That''s crazy.
I agree that it probably is not best to release the squirrel into the wild after this domestication though I know the owner is only trying to do the right thing. I still see no reason to need to kill it though. That''s crazy.
Mara
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Portia would LOVE if the squirrel came and stayed with us....
Westies were originally rodent and small prey hunters, she definitely has those instincts, she sits at the window on the couch back and SCREAMS when they run across the street. She'd jump through the window if she could, which is why we never open the window and the blinds at the same time because the screen would be no match for her burly little body. The noises she makes are absolutely unearthly.
Westies were originally rodent and small prey hunters, she definitely has those instincts, she sits at the window on the couch back and SCREAMS when they run across the street. She'd jump through the window if she could, which is why we never open the window and the blinds at the same time because the screen would be no match for her burly little body. The noises she makes are absolutely unearthly.
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Date: 10/15/2005 7:23:09 PM
Author: movie zombie
i was just surprised to see you adovcating getting a gun to defend a squirrel..... your statement had me laughing 'cause i saw you standing next to charlton heston with your gun saying 'you'll have to pry this squirrel from my dead fingers' to paraphrase the good NRA member.sorry, i'm still giggling to myself over the image!
Laugh all you want, but I am far readier to take up arms to defend helpless animals than I am for any other reason. I have said I disagree with the Supreme Court decision to take private property for other private owners, but I doubt I would take out my gun over that. Try to kill my pet, though, and I assure you you will have to pry my gun (or frying pan, or whatever I am likely to be near...maybe my KitchenAid mixer) out of my cold, dead hands! I am serious. No one could take my dog to euthanize him without killing me first.
Deb
movie zombie
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oh, deb, i know you''re serious....but the image of you with frying pan and charlton with his rifle has me giggling again!
and on the serious side, its good to know there are other women out there who are armed and are clear when they would or would not use their gun.
btw, in this country, our pets/animals are by law considered ''property'', not beloved companions......but they do not seem to have under the law as much protection as other forms of property. there is a movement to get the law changed to give our companions protection as something of value other than as property; see: http://www.aldf.org/
peace, movie zombie
and on the serious side, its good to know there are other women out there who are armed and are clear when they would or would not use their gun.
btw, in this country, our pets/animals are by law considered ''property'', not beloved companions......but they do not seem to have under the law as much protection as other forms of property. there is a movement to get the law changed to give our companions protection as something of value other than as property; see: http://www.aldf.org/
peace, movie zombie
cinnabar
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I have a straight-from-the-horse''s-mouth update for y''all on this story. I rang the Fish & Wildlife officer in charge of that area and he was kind enough to chat to me about the story.
I am pleased to report that no squirrels have been harmed during the investigation
He told me that squirrels (or rather, specifically Eastern Grey Squirrels, which this is) are not legally considered "wildlife" in the same way as big dangerous animals like bears. It is therefore not within his jurisdiction to storm into anyone''s home and take a squirrel away by force. There is to be no prying of squirrels out of anyone''s cold dead hands.
What he is going to do is to visit the lady peacefully and politely and talk to her about how she shouldn''t be looking after wild animals without knowing more about the correct way to do rehabilitation. If she intends to release the animal when it is old enough, she should not be letting it get habituated to humans (or dogs. Absolutely not dogs) for its own safety. She should not keep the animal as a pet because sexually mature squirrels are bitey and growly and just don''t make good pets.
The officer said that clearly she has a warm heart and good intentions. If she is willing to care for injured and orphaned animals on a more official basis, they will help her get training for a rehabilitator''s license. Without an official permit though, she isn''t allowed to treat any wild animals. That''s for her own safety and the good of the animals.
He was really cross with the media for presenting just one side of the story; no one from the papers or the TV channels ever contacted his office for the official viewpoint on the case and he was afraid that other people might copycat, resulting in some nasty accidents to dogs, puppies, squirrels and humans.
I was very pleasantly surprised that the officer was so open with me and willing to spend time discussing one case; he said he was swamped with work at the moment because of poachers, so it was good of him to make the effort to return my call. He certainly wasn''t the Terminator. He just wants what''s best for animals and people.
I am pleased to report that no squirrels have been harmed during the investigation
He told me that squirrels (or rather, specifically Eastern Grey Squirrels, which this is) are not legally considered "wildlife" in the same way as big dangerous animals like bears. It is therefore not within his jurisdiction to storm into anyone''s home and take a squirrel away by force. There is to be no prying of squirrels out of anyone''s cold dead hands.
What he is going to do is to visit the lady peacefully and politely and talk to her about how she shouldn''t be looking after wild animals without knowing more about the correct way to do rehabilitation. If she intends to release the animal when it is old enough, she should not be letting it get habituated to humans (or dogs. Absolutely not dogs) for its own safety. She should not keep the animal as a pet because sexually mature squirrels are bitey and growly and just don''t make good pets.
The officer said that clearly she has a warm heart and good intentions. If she is willing to care for injured and orphaned animals on a more official basis, they will help her get training for a rehabilitator''s license. Without an official permit though, she isn''t allowed to treat any wild animals. That''s for her own safety and the good of the animals.
He was really cross with the media for presenting just one side of the story; no one from the papers or the TV channels ever contacted his office for the official viewpoint on the case and he was afraid that other people might copycat, resulting in some nasty accidents to dogs, puppies, squirrels and humans.
I was very pleasantly surprised that the officer was so open with me and willing to spend time discussing one case; he said he was swamped with work at the moment because of poachers, so it was good of him to make the effort to return my call. He certainly wasn''t the Terminator. He just wants what''s best for animals and people.
AndyRosse
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Deb, I am totally with you!!Date: 10/15/2005 8:07:46 PM
Author: AGBF
Date: 10/15/2005 7:23:09 PM
Author: movie zombie
i was just surprised to see you adovcating getting a gun to defend a squirrel..... your statement had me laughing ''cause i saw you standing next to charlton heston with your gun saying ''you''ll have to pry this squirrel from my dead fingers'' to paraphrase the good NRA member.sorry, i''m still giggling to myself over the image!
Laugh all you want, but I am far readier to take up arms to defend helpless animals than I am for any other reason. I have said I disagree with the Supreme Court decision to take private property for other private owners, but I doubt I would take out my gun over that. Try to kill my pet, though, and I assure you you will have to pry my gun (or frying pan, or whatever I am likely to be near...maybe my KitchenAid mixer) out of my cold, dead hands! I am serious. No one could take my dog to euthanize him without killing me first.
Deb
And Cinnabar, I''m glad to hear the update! Thanks for hunting down the full story!
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