Buck was called in to catch the squirrel and placed a roof trap to get the job done. The squirrel was later found dead and it did not take animal CSI to fin the culprit. The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charged Kathleen Buck, noting that she failed to leave water and food for the animal and to come back to check the trap. Buck insists that the owner usually calls when the animal is trapped. This like an involuntary manslaughter case for squirrels, an involuntary squirrelslaughter.
She now faces four counts and has been marked as a bad nut by the local squirrel population.
I have always been a bit suspicious over trappers who promise to remove animals in some forest where they can live a natural and full life. Despite the ongoing Turley-Squirrel war over my bird feeders, I have reached a certain coexistence with my squirrel population. They are allowed to continue to try to scarf suet if they stay away from the kinder and the sunflower seeds. Of course, once a year, I have to dress in a squirrel outfit and sacrifice a suet to the Squirrel King, but that is a small price to pay.
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