Crime & Safety

Baby Skunks Testing their Stinkers

Who was crying in the woods on Penny Royal Lane? Homeless Barn Swallows receive care. Two birds' deaths remain a mystery. That and more in this edition of Monroe Animal Reports.

Playing with their Stinkers

A skunk living under the front steps of a house on Oakwood Drive has babies, and the young like playing with their stinkers, much to the chagrin of the family who resides there. The skunks have been spraying on a daily basis, so Monroe Animal Control was called in on July 5.

"It's common for the young to test their new equipment," Monroe Animal Control Officer Edward Risko explained.

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He said it is normal and healthy behavior ... for the skunks.

The family was given exclusion methods to prevent the animals from having a den beneath the steps, and were given a referral to hire a private Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection licensed nuisance wildlife operator.

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Who's Crying in the Woods?

A Penny Royal Lane woman reported hearing a child or a girl screaming in the woods at around 10:45 a.m. on July 9, but an officer searched the area and could not find anyone.

Animal Control Officer Edward Risko believes the woman heard an animal and suggested that she Google for the vocals of a fisher cat and a fox to see if that is what she heard.

Young Barn Swallows Down

Two bird nests were found on the ground at a property in the 400-block of Main Street at 11 a.m. on July 11 with six young Barn Swallows — ages ranging from two days to a week old.

Police said painters had removed the nests from a building and were unable to replace them.

The birds were taken to a DEEP licensed rehabilitator for continued care.

Cause of Deaths Unknown

A bird was found dead in a yard on Cascade Circle and a second bird removed from the property by a DEEP licensed wildlife rehabilitator passed away during the night.

The cause of the deaths are unknown, according to police, who said the case remains open pending the finding of additional birds.

Bats in the Attic

Elaine Drive residents reported bats in their attic on July 10.

Some of the bats are babies, so police recommended waiting until late August or early September to put up exclusion devices to avoid killing the bats or leaving them trapped inside the attic.

A bat exclusion PSA was provided with a referral to hire a private DEEP licensed nuisance wildlife control operator.

Raccoons in a Dumpster

An adult raccoon and its two babies had to be released from a Dumpster at 390 Monroe Turpike at 9:47 p.m. on July 5. It was recommended that the property owner animal proof the trash container and clean the area to stop attracting animals to the site.

A similar report was made on Hidden Knolls Circle on July 7.

Woodchuck had Rabies

A sick or injured woodchuck euthanized in a backyard on Patmar Lane on July 8 later tested positive for rabies at the State Lab in Hartford, according to police.

There was no human exposure, but the homeowner's two cats received booster vaccinations and will be observed for 45 days, police said.

Injured Turtle

An injured turtle was reported on the roadway on High Rock Road at 11:51 a.m. July 8, but an officer searched the area and could not find it.

A Lost Cat

A family on Turkey Roost Road reported their cat missing on July 11. It was last seen on July 4.

It is described as a male Maine Coon mix with a brown, black and white chest and long hair. The 5-year-old cat is neutered and was wearing a flea collar.

Thank You

The Monroe Animal Shelter expresses its gratitude to the Ryan family of Wells Road for its donation of two one-pound boxes of dog biscuits and to the O'Shaughnessy family of Webb Circle for their donation of a dog bed and dishes.


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