Animal Reports: Ouch! A Faceful of Quills

A Prickly Situation

A porcupine caused problems for dogs living within an electric fence on Manor Drive April 27. Police said three of the four dogs were injured after trying to chew on the prickly visitor.

In the morning the owner removed most of the quills from the face of the first dog. The second dog was found later in the day and the owner removed the quills. But the third dog had to be taken to emergency vet care that night and released the following morning after being injured, according to police.

The pet owners are monitoring their dogs for infection of the wounds.

The owners and officers were unable to find the porcupine after searching the immediate area, the report said.

________________________________________________________________________________________

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 surveillance camera was installed near a culvert on the property to determine whether it is living there or was just passing through, Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said.

"This may have been a female looking for a den site. That would explain why she was hanging out there all day," Risko said, adding that a porcupine's pregnancy lasts seven months and the animal usually gives birth to one baby.

If the porcupine is there to stay, Risko would suggest putting up fencing to keep the dogs away from it.

Baby Fox Photos

A camera with a motion sensor captured fox kits and their mother around their den site beneath a shed on Pastors Walk. Check out the photos with this story.

Mistaken Identity

A Settlers Farm Road woman reported seeing a mountain lion on her property at 8:27 Monday morning, but it turned out to be a coyote.

Another coyote was spotted on Shadow Circle in the Northbrook condominium complex at 5:49 Tuesday evening. Police said it displayed normal, healthy behavior. (See the photo)

A Pesky Raccoon

A Valley View Road woman complained Tuesday about a raccoon damaging her bird feeder and rummaging through her garbage, which is normal behavior, according to Animal Control Officer Edward Risko. 

She asked Monroe Animal Control to trap and relocate the raccoon, but an officer declined. Risko said it is against state law to relocate a raccoon because, if the animal is infected with rabies, it would spread into another part of the state.

The homeowner was told to stop feeding the birds and thus attracting other wildlife onto her property and an officer suggested she buy "correct" garbage containers that are designed to prevent animals from entering them, according to the report.

She's Pregnant or Sick

A skunk was hanging around a property on Maplewood Drive, according to a report at 9:04 a.m. on Monday.

Animal Control Officer Edward Risko believes a den site is in the yard and said the property owner will monitor the site to see if there are baby skunks within the next 30 days.

"I'm hoping it's a den site because, if not, the animal is sick," Risko said, adding he asked the owner to take photos so he can see if there are any bite wounds.

If the skunk is pregnant, Risko said, "In another couple of weeks the skunk babies will be out following the adult female all over the place." 

Roadside Casualties

A 15-pound adult male raccoon was struck by a vehicle in the 300-block of Webb Circle, according to a report filed at 10 a.m. on April 26.

An opossum was struck by a vehicle on Hiram Hill Road at around 8:38 a.m. on April 28. An Animal Control officer could not find the carcass.

A deer was struck by a motor vehicle and injured on Jockey Hollow Road at 8:31 p.m. and had to be euthanized, according to police.

A deer died when it was hit by a vehicle in the 100-block of Main Street late Tuesday night. Police said it was a 100-pound adult male. 

Deadly Disease

A sick or injured skunk was reported in a yard on Richards Drive at 5:26 a.m. on April 28. Police could not find the animal.

A dead raccoon was found in a backyard on Flint Ridge Road at 9:38 a.m. April 29.

Police said the carcass was removed and that the cause of death appeared to be from disease, which Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said usually means rabies.

"The animal was fed on, so it will spread," Risko said.

Missing Rabbits

A Twin Brook Terrace couple reported two stray dogs roaming loose in their yard and three of their pet rabbits missing at 7:06 p.m. on April 26.

The dogs' owner on Lovers Lane was charged with a roaming dog violation and creating a nuisance — fines totalling $167.

Dog's Back Home

A black labrador retriever is back at its Shelton home after it was missing for three days.

The dog was seen loose on Pepper Street in Monroe at around 8:52 a.m. on April 26. The adult female dog with no collar was impounded and redeemed by her owner on April 28.

The owner was given a verbal warning for a roaming dog.

Thank You

Monroe Animal Control is grateful to the Mondo family for their donation of dog food to the shelter at 447 Purdy Hill Road.