Animal Reports: A Runaway Peacock, a Raccoon Under Siege

A Bad Time for Small Pets

On Tuesday a woman on Sachem Drive in Shelton reported that her cat was missing for four days. The female domestic short-hair is black with white markings and weighs 12-pounds. It is spayed and was wearing a micro-chip.

When someone loses their cat, Animal Control Officer Ed Risko recommends going door-to-door to 20 houses in each direction, which is a cat's normal range. This also allows the owner to check the sides of the road to see if the pet was struck by a vehicle.

At this time of year, Risko said the pet owner should ask neighbors if any coyote or foxes were seen in the area. During the springtime, they agressively hunt small animals like cats, he said.

Peacock on the Run

An Old Coach Road man believes his Peacock was scared off by a predator and it has since been seen atop a house on Stonehedge Lane at 7:26 Wednesday morning and near Masuk High School on Thursday morning. (Photos with this story).

The owner told Monroe Animal Control that foxes and raccoons have killed several chickens in his yard and police said a dead chicken was found in a nearby yard on Stonehedge Lane Thursday morning.

A neighbor has been complaining about the Peacock since last November, because it goes into her yard and leaves feces everywhere, according to police.

A Raccoon Under Siege

A boy waiting at his bus stop on Deer River Lane Monday morning told his mother he saw a raccoon being attacked by crows high up in a tree (see photos). 

Police said it was resting on branches approximately 60 feet above the ground and that it was normal behavior for a raccoon. The animal came down during the night.

However, Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said raccoons normally sleep in thicker trees during the day and not as high up. He believes the raccoon was frightened when it climbed the tree the night before.

Beaver Crossing

A passing motorist reported a traffic hazard when he saw a beaver walking in the road on Roosevelt Drive at 10:47 Wednesday night. Police searched the area, but could not find the animal. 

Coyote Sightings

A coyote was seen on Webb Circle at around 5:18 p.m. on Saturday. Police said the animal was behaving normally and did not appear to be sick or injured.

In a separate incident another coyote was spotted in a front yard on Quarter Horse Road on Tuesday morning. It also appeared healthy, according to Monroe Animal Control.

Dog Apparentally Abandoned

A stray black and brown dog was found in the roadway by Judd Road and Velvet Street at 2:36 p.m. March 16. It was captured by passing motorists at 3:32 p.m., according to the report.

Newtown Animal Control, performing mutual aid, held the pooch for Monroe. The dog, named Mortimer by Animal Control Officer Ed Risko, is now in the town's pound (see photos with this story).

Mortimer, a mixed breed Spaniel/Retreiver, is a five-year-old neutered male. He has a medium black coat with tan markings.

Casualties

Someone reported finding a dead Barn Owl on Cross Hill Road March 15. The park ranger suggested contacting the Connecticut Audubon Society in Fairfield.

A crow died when it was struck by a vehicle on Pepper Street. It's carcass was removed on Wednesday.

A stray cat struck by a vehicle in the 800 block of Main Street was removed from the roadway by the Connecticut Department of Transportation March 15. Monroe Animal Control said no cats were reported missing in the area.

Cat Bites Woman

An Elm Street woman, who had been feeding a stray cat for approximately six months, was bitten Monday while trying to remove a tick from the unvaccinated feline, according to police.

She declined to have the cat impounded and sent to a state lab for rabies testing, so Monroe Animal Control suggested an on-property, 14-day quarantine for the cat. If it dies in the period, then the woman should get post-exposure treatment for rabies, police said.

Abandoned Dog

The SPCA of Connecticut reported that a dog had been abandoned Saturday and transported it to the Monroe pound. The case is under investigation.

Crackdown on Unlicensed Dogs

A crackdown on unlicensed dogs continued over the past week. Nineteen written warnings were issued.

Roaming Dogs

Two white huskies were returned to their owner on Windgate Circle Monday afternoon after being found roaming on Pine Tree Road in Newtown and being impounded by that town's animal control.

Police said the dogs were validly licensed and vaccinated.

The owner of three small breed dogs on Cutlers Farm Road claimed electric fence failure had allowed them to roam on March 15. The pet owner was issued a written warning for roaming dogs.

Lost & Found

An Elm Street owner was reunited with a lost Shih Tzu Monday after it was impounded by Monroe Animal Control the day before. She paid a $15 fee and was issued written warnings for a roaming dog and failure to license.

On Saturday a beagle with an electric fence collar was reported missing on Tulip Drive before its owner recovered it without incident. However, the owner was issued a written warning for failure to license.