Animal Reports: Rabid Raccoons Rumble

Fur Flies in Raccoon Battle

A Countryside Drive woman heard screams outside her house and looked out the window to see two raccoons fighting near a swamp adjacent to her property at around 9:35 Monday morning.

The fight continued into her driveway and then onto her backyard before the animals scurried into the woods.

Monroe Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said the behavior is consistent with the "furious" form of rabies, when an infected animal attacks a second animal, spreading the virus.

"The one with rabies will die in about nine days and the other one will die in 30 as a general rule," Risko said.

He said rabies spreads quickly when the infected animals' population is high, then tails off as the numbers go down.

A Stray Peacock

A Bridle Path Terrace woman who had read about a loose Peacock in Monroe Patch called animal control when she saw the exotic bird in her yard on Monday aftertoon.

However, Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said it is not the same bird that fled from a property on Old Coach Road to avoid predators two weeks ago.

A Cow Gets Loose

Benedict's Home & Garden had to return one of its cows to pasture Monday evening after it had gotten loose and was seen on Old Newtown Road, according to police.

Sick & Injured

A sick and injured raccoon was reported in the yard of a Flint Ridge Road residence at 6:05 Wednesday morning. It was euthanized by police without incident, according to the report.

There was exposure by proximity to a dog on the property. The canine was validly vaccinated and licensed, but Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said a booster vaccination shot was ordered for the dog along with a 45 day on property observation.

In a separate incident, a sick injured skunk was seen in the front yard of Moose Hill Road residence. A police officer euthanized the animal without incident and there was no exposure nor testing required, according to police.

Food for Baby Foxes

A fox left Canada Goose carcasses in two yards on West Maiden Lane this week after hunting for food to bring back to its den.

Animal Control Officer Edward Risko said the short distance between the properties is evidence that the fox has a female companion and puppies to take care of. After the mother nurses for two weeks, Risko said both parents will hunt to feed their young.

These Dogs Go to Church

Police handled eight roaming dog complaints over the past week.

In one the incidents reported on Sunday morning, a female motorist picked up two stray German Shepherds, went to a church service, then took them to the Monroe Animal Shelter on Purdy Hill Road where the dogs were reunited with their owner — a Hirams Hill Road resident.

A Cock-a-Poodle Mix

A small white dog with a pink collar was seen in a yard on Kimberly Drive at 4:08 p.m. March 29. It has been impounded (see the photo with this story).

The dog, described as a three-year-old female Cock-a-Poodle mix with a curly coat, was still unclaimed as of Thursday morning. If the status is the same on April 9, the dog will be available for adoption, according to state statute.

Attempts to locate its owner continue with a canvassing of the neighborhood where it was found, questioning of local groomers, veterinarians and animal controls in surrounding towns.

Roadway Casualties

A stray cat hit by a motor vehicle in the 500-block of Route 111 was found injured on the side of the road at 6:37 p.m. Tuesday. Police said a passerby took the feline to a veterinarian for treatment, adding its owner has not been identified.

The carcass of a deer struck by a vehicle on Barn Hill Road was removed at 8:12 p.m. on March 30.

A stray cat struck and killed by a car on Monroe Turnpike was removed at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday. Animal Control could not determine who its owner was.

Lost & Found

A brown short-haired puppy reported missing at 11:43 a.m. March 29 was recovered by its owner on Old Coach Road five hours later, according to police.

The owner was issued a verbal warning for failure to vaccinate the pet, which he had just acquired three days prior.

In another incident reported at 2:54 p.m. on March 31, a tan Pit Bull Boxer Retriever mix was recovered by its owner, a Turkey Roost Road woman.

Barking Dog

A Flint Ridge Road resident called to complain about a barking dog in the 600-block of Elm Street at 10:08 p.m. on March 29. Its owner was given a complaint advisory notice for a barking dog violation and brought the pet back into the house, according to the report.

Both of the owner's dogs were validly vaccinated and licensed.