A man driving north on Jockey Hollow Road reported seeing what he believed to be a moose walking across the road near Pepper Street on Friday morning, Nov. 8. But Monroe Animal Control Officer Ed Risko says only deer tracks were found on a nearby trail during a site inspection.
The man described the animal as being larger than a deer with longer ears, a darker brown color and no antlers.
Risko said an officer was unable to substantiate the report.
It’s rare to have moose this low in the state, according to Risko, who said they are the largest animals in the Northern Hemisphere.
Adult males may weigh as much as 1,500 pounds with average weights closer to 1,000 pounds for adult males and 800 pounds for adult females. This time of year, calves should be 300 to 400 pounds, twice the size of a whitetail deer, whose average weight is 100 to 150 pounds, Risko said.
The sighting was reported at 8:49 a.m.
Raccoon euthanized at Wolfe Park
A sick raccoon seen near the walkway around Great Hollow Lake on Monday, Nov. 4, was euthanized.
On Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1:40 p.m., a woman using the walkway reported a raccoon that was not acting normally. She warned other people using the trail to avoid the immediate area and Monroe Animal Control searched the area and scheduled periodic patrols.
On Nov. 4, officers found the animal lakeside at 3:54 p.m. Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said the raccoon was not walking correctly, adding it had a high arched back and balance issues.
The raccoon also showed no fear, was unable to climb trees or use escape routes. An assessment was conducted and the animal was euthanized.
There were no exposures and no testing was required, according to Risko. The remains were removed for cremation.
A Monroe dog bite in Southbury
A 36-year-old woman running on Flood Bridge Road in Southbury was passing a woman walking a small, mixed-breed dog when, without warning, the dog bit the runner on the back of her leg, causing a physical injury, Saturday, Nov. 9.
The dog owner said she and her pet were from Monroe, but no names nor rabies vaccination information was exchanged, according to police.
The runner was treated at Danbury Hospital and started the post exposure vaccines for rabies pursuant to Center for Disease Control protocol. An investigation is pending to identify the dog owner.
The incident took place around 1 p.m.
Hunter’s paperwork valid
A Jockey Hollow Road resident reported finding an injured deer in his yard on Monday, Nov. 11, and the deer died before an officer arrived.
Later that morning, police said a man reported he had been hunting in the area with a property owner’s permission and had shot a deer, which ran away. He’d been tracking the blood trail but lost the track, according to the report.
The hunter’s paperwork was reviewed and valid, police said, adding the hunter was given the remains of the deer and the deer was tagged by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Raccoon chased up a tree
A Maplewood Drive woman reported seeing a raccoon in her yard, which her dog chased up a tree on Monday afternoon, Nov. 11.
The raccoon climbed back down once the dog was taken away by the resident, according to police.
Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said the raccoon did not appear to be physically injured or sick and had returned to the tree line. No food attractants were found on the property.
Risko said there were no exposures and no testing was required, adding the dog was validly vaccinated.
The resident was asked to call again if the animal returned within the next nine days.
Squirrel nests in an attic
A Far Horizon man reported hearing scratching and chewing noises in his attic on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Police said a site inspection was performed and tracks outside leading to the attic space indicated a squirrel was nesting in the man’s house.
A referral was made to hire a nuisance wildlife control operator and exclusion tips were provided along with species fact sheets with common cautions.
Feeding wildlife attracts visitors
A Percheron Drive man reported seeing his neighbor feeding wildlife, drawing coyote into the neighborhood.
Monroe Animal Control provided species fact sheets with common cautions and hazing tips to discourage the coyote from going into the resident’s yard.
A red fox at his doorstep
A Monroe Turnpike man reported finding a red fox, that appear disoriented, sitting at his doorstep, favoring one of its hind legs on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Police said the fox walked off the property prior to an officer’s arrival.
A species fact sheet with common cautions was provided to the caller, along with a rabies advisory notice. There were no exposures to the family dogs, which were validly licensed, according to Monroe Animal Control Officer Ed Risko.
No additional reports were received about the fox over a 48-hour-period.
Stray cat goes into a garage
A Woodlawn Road woman reported finding a stray cat inside her garage on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Police said she removed the cat and exclusion tips were provided to keep it from going back in.
Monroe Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said a description of the cat did not match any missing pet reports in the area. In case it becomes a persistent issue, the homeowner was given a referral to private no kill rescue groups.
Push to license dogs
Monroe Animal Control issued 20 written warnings in the past week to residents for failing to vaccinate their dogs.
Connecticut state law requires pet owners to license their dogs and violations can carry a $75 fine per dog.
