"I... I just need to know that they're getting all those picnic baskets I've been leaving out for them, is all..."
Posted on 02/16/2006 12:22:01 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A man plans to pursue visitation rights with the half-dozen black bears that were removed from his farm near Tecumseh last month.
Duane Kuhl, 37, was ticketed on suspicion of illegally possessing wild animals. He pleaded not guilty to the six misdemeanor charges at an arraignment Wednesday in Johnson County Court. Kuhl also faces a five felony counts of stealing some 64 hogs.
His lawyer, Christopher Ferdico, said he and his client plan to pursue the opportunity to visit with the bears, now being housed at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, and check on their health and safety.
Johnson County Attorney Randall Ritnour said Kuhl has no right to see the animals, which the county considers to be contraband.
"He has no more right to visit those bears than a drug dealer has a right to visit his stash after we take it," Ritnour said.
In mid-January, workers from the Henry Doorly Zoo helped Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials remove the bears from cages on Kuhl's farm - about four miles east of Tecumseh - to the zoo.
Officials at the time said the bears seemed to be in good condition. Three were slated to deliver cubs.
Kuhl said after the bears had been taken that he had permission to have them on his farm, but state law changed last year. He said he owned the bears before the law was changed but only moved them to his farm weeks earlier. The bears had been at a private collector's residence near Leavenworth, Kan., about 80 miles away.
The bears - all North American black bears - range in age from 4 to 8 years old and have been declawed. Kuhl said he planned to sell the cubs as pets to people in states where it is legal to own and possess them.
As for the hog stealing case, Ritnour said Kuhl is accused of taking the animals from a hog operation where he worked and selling them locally for profit. Ritnour estimated the hogs' value at about $24,000.
Both cases are scheduled again for March 29.
I almost feel sorry for this guy. Let him visit the bears, says I!
"I... I just need to know that they're getting all those picnic baskets I've been leaving out for them, is all..."
Bears to man. "Oh man, not this guy again. He bores me stupid."
As for the 24 hogs, stealing one hog would be a days work for me.
It's cruel to declaw animals. It's actually a form of amputation.
Not to mention painful if not done properly. Defanging is even more barbaric.
L
So you declaw a predator and defange them so they can't eat food properly and then shoot them to put them out of their misery.
If I'm misunderstanding you please feel free to correct me.
I also heartily disagree with the practice of keeping wild animals as pets. Wild animals belong in their natural habitat where I can hunt them.
L
Just as barbaric as cutting off a dog's tail and cropping their ears.
L
A Ok no offence given or taken.
I'm a little sensitive on this topic because a local zoo had an old polar bear on exhibit that had a fungus infection in his fur and paced up and down in a concrete enclosure until the pads on his feet were bleeding.
There was a pool but he never went into it which is unheard of for a polar bear.
The animal was insane and should have been put down but the Zoo let him die of old age because he was a big draw.
I saw him before he died and I was disgusted. I've seen polar bears in the wild and this poor guy was badly mistreated.
I made my parents take me home when they started playing "Born Free" as they were cracking whips at the lions. Now, I'm not suggesting that circuses be banned or anything. I simply excersize my right not to support them with my money.
I have, however, picked up a load of circus crap for my garden. Elephant dung is excellent fertilizer and when B & B comes to Chicago they give the stuff away.
Hard to believe, but they'll actually let you pick up a load of elephant crap. What a country.
L
"Elephant dung"
I think you're looking at a franchise.
BTW the first solid food that a baby elephant eats is it's mothers dung which is rich in fiber and and antibodies that prevent disease.
Man reality is stranger than fiction.
Timmy Treadwell was unavailable for comment.
Now maybe if I composted and bagged it...Hows this for a brand name:
Dumbo Dung. For flowers the size of an elephants ear insist on the one, the only, the original, and the best Dumbo Dung. Available at a quality garden center near you!
God, I'm a genius...That or I've had too much or not enough coffee.
L
I thought it said *BEERS.*
All you would need is weekend visitation rights.
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