Animal Reports: Opossum Dies in Accident, Baby Survives in Its Pouch

A Den of Baby Raccoons

A raccoon den site was found in the loft of a detached garage on Elm Street on May 5. No adult raccoon was present, but the homeowner removed five babies and placed them in a basket by the woods, so their mother could pick them up. (See the photo)

Monroe Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said the baby raccoons' lives were not in danger from this, adding the mother usually takes each away one-by-one.

However, as of May 7, police said no adult raccoon had returned, so the young were turned over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

On the first night that the raccoons were in the basket, Risko said two of the babies escaped and wandered into the road. A motorist stopped to avoid hitting them and the raccoons climbed up underneath the car to hide. A police officer had to get them out.

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In another incident on May 9, Monroe officers assisted Newtown Animal Control when baby raccoons were found on the side of the road in that town.

An Opossum Dies. Its Baby Survives

An adult female opossum suffered near fatal injuries after being hit by a car in front of the sidewalk at , 535 Monroe Turnpike, at 12:31 p.m. on May 7 and had to be euthanized, according to police.

A four-week-old baby opossum in its pouch was still alive (See photo). It was transported to a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

A Dog Bite

A 37-year-old man was walking his dog on Greenwood Drive at around 8:35 p.m. on May 3 when three German Shepherds ran out of a yard, one approaching the man's dog and another biting him on the leg.

Police said the owner of the three dogs immediately gathered them up. The man's dog was uninjured, but he was examined by Monroe Emergency Medical Service personnel before going to St. Vincent's Medical Center for treatment of the bite, according to the report.

The owner was issued tickets for a roaming dog violation and creating a nuisance, fines totaling $317. Her dog that bit the victim must be quarantined for 14 days then examined by a veterinarian as a precaution.

Police said the woman had just moved to Monroe from Fairfield and is in the process of building a stockade-style wood fence, adding Fairfield Animal Control had no history of complaints about her dogs.

A Pesky Woodchuck

A Williamsburg Drive resident complained May 9 about a woodchuck living under the shed, digging holes in the yard and eating flowers.

The behavior was determined to be normal and a DEEP Client notice was issued, along with a woodchuck fact sheet. Recommended exclusion and fencing suggestions were provided.

Did Dogs Kill the Rabbits?

Two stray German short hair pointer dogs wearing electric fence collars were seen roaming in a yard on Countryside Drive the night before the homeowner found two pet rabbits dead and their cages destroyed May 5, police said.

An investigation determined that the rabbit kill was typical of a dog damage complaint, according to the report.

The owner of the dogs, a Lovers Lane resident, was issued a ticket for a roaming dog violation and failure to license dogs — fines totalling $167.

Raccoon Eats Cat's Food

A Cottage Street woman complained May 7 that a raccoon was eating her cat's food on her back deck.

An officer searched the area, but could not find the animal. Monroe Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said it is normal behaviour for a raccoon at this time of year, adding it may be an adult female with a den site foraging for food.

Risko said the animal was drawn to the woman's deck because she's feeding her cat outside. Cautions, guidelines and feeding recommendations were provided.

A Coyote Sighting

A coyote was seen on Verna Road on May 8. An officer was unable to locate the animal and its behavior was considered normal and routine.

A DEEP Client notice with "Common Cautions" was provided to the property owner, along with a coyote fact sheet describing normal behavior.

Risko said it is good to report coyote sightings because it allows him to monitor coyote activity. For instance, another recent sighting on Shadow Circle tells him there is a possible den site in the general area.

"I want to know why they're coming through the area, make sure they're healthy and see if a property has attractions," Risko said.

A Fox Den Site

A fox den was reported on Huntingtown Road May 9. A DEEP Client notice was provided to the homeowner, along with a fox fact sheet and common cautions.

Monroe Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said common cautions include keeping your dog away from the den and not letting your children play with the fox kits. If the foxes are left alone, he said they usually leave within a month or two.

Dog for Adoption

A small, white Bichon Frise type dog found in the Wolfe Park parking lot on Cutlers Farm Road on May 3 is still living at the Monroe Animal Shelter on Purdy Hill Road. The two-year-old female can now be adopted (See the photo).

The Monroe Animal Shelter is at 447 Purdy Hill Road and its hours are from 8 to 11 a.m. The phone number is (203) 452-3760.

Chickens in the Road

A complaint advisory notice was issued to the Hammertown Road owner of chickens that had to be removed from the roadway on Fan Hill Road at 12:34 p.m. on May 3.

Stray Peacock May Live Here

A stray peacock was seen on Lake Road in Newtown on May 3. Joseph Aversa, who owns a variety of animals on Old Coach Road in Monroe, believes it may be his bird and contacted the Lake Road woman who saw it to aid in its capture, police said.

Animal Makes Traffic Swerve

A sick or injured animal in the south bound lane of Monroe Turnpike caused vehicles to swerve around it, according to a report filed at 5:18 p.m. on May 6. An officer searched the area, but was unable to find the animal.

Fines for Dog Violations

A Hillside Lane resident was issued a written warning on May 9 for a roaming dog and a $75 ticket for failure to license after two dogs, a German Shepherd mix and a pug, were seen roaming in the neighborhood.

In another incident on May 9, a stray dog picked up on Fan Hill Road was claimed by its Turkey Roost Road owner at the pound for $15. The owner was issued a $92 ticket for a roaming dog violation.