The Crime Of Rehabilitating An Animal Without The Proper Paperwork
Elizabeth Nolan Brown blogs at reason about Reba and Tommy Morse, who, when living in Florida, often helped nurse injured wild animals back to health -- like Grace, the squirrel.
But then, oops, the Morses moved to Alabama, where Grace was seized by state wildlife services.
Brown writes:
The agency wants us to know we are dealing with dangeous criminals, pointing out that one of the Morses "was ticketed in Florida in 2013 for ... rehabilitating wildlife without a permit." Heaven forbid someone aid an animal without the proper paperwork! You should have to pay the state to help save a squirrel's life, obviously."We cannot turn a blind eye to these violations," said WFF Director Chuck Sykes. "The animals have to be confiscated. It may not be the popular thing to do, but it is our job to protect the public from the potential threats that wild animals pose to humans. In one of those cases last year, a man in Marshall County suffered serious injuries, including the loss of vision in one eye."
According to AL.com, the squirrels were turned over to an animal rehabilitator with the proper permit. From here, they will either be returned to the wild or--if deemed unfit for living on their own in the wild--wind up euthanized.
Again, only part of the story...
Bring a prairie dog from Colorado to another state, you might just bring the plague with you. Yes, that plague.
There is a reason it is called, "wildlife".
Radwaste at September 9, 2014 6:14 AM
Who gives you the right to say I can not have a lynx as a pet? This is America. (sarcasm)
Rabies and other diseases. Radwaste's comments are spot on. Mother Nature is not as Disney presents it.
Bob in Texas at September 9, 2014 6:31 AM
Armadillos can transmit leprosy to humans.
LauraGr at September 9, 2014 9:42 AM
I grew up in AZ in and Radwaste is correct about the diseases. I've got pictures of tourists hand feeding squirrels at the Grand Canyon, while standing next to clearly marked warning signs--DON'T FEED WILDLIFE...caution for hanta virus, plague and rabies.
There are of course other reasons not to treat the wild like your own personal petting zoo. http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/wildlife_alert.htm
End note: I think authorities at the Grand Canyon were looking for some French guys a few months ago, as a video was posted of them. They had coaxed a squirrel to them, and then laughed as they kicked the poor thing over the edge of the canyon.
Cruel and shitty thing to do? Absolutely. But I doubt they would have succeeded if idiot tourists stopped feeding their silly Disney princess fantasy, and stated respecting the rules and the wildlife.
Mel at September 9, 2014 2:27 PM
Yes, we had a problem with "nuisance" bears along the Appalachian Trail here in New Jersey a couple of years back. It turns out that some people (hikers) were leaving food out which attracted the bears.
Bears, being bears, weren't aware that clawing their way into a tent with sleeping campers was a "bad" thing to do. They just learned, from experience, that is where food could be found.
Their loss of fear of humans caused them to be "put down."
So, yea, there are reasons while wildlife should be left wild.
Charles at September 9, 2014 6:20 PM
There's a reason why I carry a 1911 with me whenever I go into the woods into a state/federal park alone.
I know it is illegal, but I'd rather have a choice to protect myself.
Jim P. at September 9, 2014 9:52 PM
Jim, I'm surprised at the choice. Some thick-skulled critters are out there, and 45ACP hasn't the best record in handgun hunting. Still a good idea to be armed!
Radwaste at September 10, 2014 12:21 PM
It may not be a kill shot(s). But if I can wound the animal it will probably back off enough to let me get away.
I know I can't outrun any type of large cat like a mountain lion. And if it is a bear there is not much chance of survival just based on the typical size.
Jim P. at September 10, 2014 12:38 PM
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