A Red Tail Hawk and Two Baby Rabbits Go to Rehab

Baby Rabbits in Rehab

A cat captured and injured a baby rabbit at a property on Monroe Turnpike at around 8:33 a.m. on Aug. 8. The rabbit was brought to a DEEP licensed wildlife rehabilitator for continued care.

In a separate incident, Hills of Monroe residents reported seeing a baby cottontail rabbit sitting at the corner of Fairmount Drive and Windgate Circle for two days without moving. The animal was brought to the Monroe Animal Shelter in a box on Thursday morning. (See the photo)

"They picked it up with no problem," Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said. "For a wild animal, allowing you to catch it shows there's an issue."

Risko said it had not been determined whether the rabbit was not moving due to malnutrition, a parasite issue or an injury.

The rabbit was going to be transported to a DEEP licensed wildlife rehabilitator later in the day for continued care.

Red Tail Hawk Needs Care

A baby Red Tail Hawk with a parasitic infection was captured in a yard on Hammertown Road and transported to a Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) licensed wildlife rehabilitator — Wildlife in Crisis in Weston — for continued care. (See the photos)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Interested in Monroe's news, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Monroe Patch daily newsletter, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

________________________________________________________________________________________

A Bobcat Sighting

A bobcat was seen in a yard on Fan Hill Road on Aug. 7. Police said the activity the homeowner described was normal and routine for a bobcat and determined that the animal posed no threat.

The homeowner was given a common caution fact sheet on bobcats.

Gone Batty

A Church Street woman reported seeing a bat flying around and seeming to attack a window screen outside of her house at three in the afternoon Wednesday.

An officer searched the area, but was unable to find the bat nor its roost and provided the resident with a sheet on common cautions and a state fact sheet on the eight varieties of bats in Connecticut.

Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said the behavior the woman described was abnormal for a bat. Another officer was heading back to the property to interview the resident on Thursday morning.

Screaming in the Woods

A Meadows End Road resident reported hearing a person screaming in the woods at around 9:38 p.m. on Aug. 9, but police determined that the sound was not human. Rather the source was from an animal, possibly a fisher cat.

Dogs Hitch a Ride

A German Shepherd and a black Labrador Retriever who strayed from their property decided to hitch a ride, rather than walk back home.

A driver, who saw the animals in the road on Webb Circle at 6 p.m. on Aug. 6, stopped to check them for identification when the dogs, without an invitation, climbed into her car, according to the report.

Police said she drove the dogs home to their owner's house on Webb Circle, adding both dogs were validly licensed and no police action was necessary.

A Raccoon Drowns

A dead raccoon was found in an inground swimming pool on Far Horizon Drive at 4:19 p.m. Tuesday. Police believe the adult raccoon was sick when he fell into the water, was too weak to climb out and drowned.

"Healthy adult raccoons have no problem swimming," Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said.

Not a Snake Bite

A Grindstone Lane resident told police he was cutting his lawn and trimming the edge of his property at around 1:46 p.m. Monday when something bit him. At first he thought it was a snake bite, but he didn't see a snake.

Police said there was no bite wound and that an officer's search of a nearby bush determined there was a yellow jackets nest in the ground beneath it. In fact, the officer was stung three times herself.

Bulldog Struck by Vehicle

A driver told police she struck and killed a stray bulldog with her car on Wheeler Road at 4:48 p.m. on Monday. While she was waiting for an officer, the dog's owner arrived and removed his pet from the roadway and drove off without leaving his name.

Police said the owner is still unknown and there is no license on file for a dog matching the bulldog's description in the area.

A Large Hornet Nest

A large white or bald faced hornet nest was reported on the back porch of a home on Far Horizon Drive Tuesday — near a door to the house.

Based on its proximity to the door, an officer gave the homeowner instructions on when and how he could remove the nest.

A Missing Dog

A 15-year-old black Labrador Retriever named Plato was reported missing from his home on Arrow Head Road in Trumbull at 2:52 p.m. Tuesday. The dog was wearing a collar with tags.

A Sick Fox

A sickly looking fox, possibly suffering from mange, was seen in a yard on Wheeler Road Aug. 9. Common cautions for foxes were given to the property maintainer.

Deer Casualties

An injured deer found in a yard on Elm Street Saturday had to be euthanized, according to police. Though there were no accident reports concerning deer strikes in the immediate area, police believe it was probably hit by a vehicle.

The doe was about 120 pounds, according to the report.

The body of a deer was found in a stream off of Whitewood Drive at around 10 a.m. Monday. Police believe it may have fallen into the water after being struck by a vehicle.

A Generous Donation

Monroe Animal Control is grateful for the Rocco family's donation of dog biscuits, dry food, collars and leashes to the animal shelter on Sunday.