Raccoon killing draws interest of animal welfare group (Update)

Athens Banner-Herald ^ | 12/31/03 | Lori Johnston

[Holly_P]

ATHENS, Ga. — The Humane Society of the United States is asking for a thorough investigation into a report that three University of Georgia fraternity brothers beat, skinned and ate a raccoon.

"The senseless killing of a raccoon is certainly a crime in Georgia. It's a violent crime," Ann Chynoweth, a lawyer for the animal welfare group, said Wednesday. "We want it to be investigated."

The men had spotted the raccoon behaving erratically outside the Phi Kappa Psi house on Dec. 12. One hit it with construction pylon and shot it with a pellet gun in the fraternity's parking lot, Athens-Clarke County Animal Control officials said. Another skinned the raccoon, and a third cooked and ate some of its meat.

At least one fraternity member was treated for possible exposure to rabies, which can be fatal if left untreated.

No animal cruelty charges have been pressed against the men. Athens-Clarke County Solicitor General Ralph Powell, who will determine whether or not to file charges, did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment.

The three members involved will go before the fraternity's grievance committee after UGA's spring semester begins, said Larry Bales, fraternity president. They face possible sanctions from reprimands to expulsion from the fraternity.

"It was an isolated incident that happened to happen on our property," Bales said Wednesday. "Three members were out in the back parking lot acting foolish. We don't condone that type of activity."

The Humane Society has written a letter to UGA Interfraternity Council saying that those involved in killing the raccoon should be expelled from the fraternity, at the very least, Chynoweth said.

"The boys-will-be-boys excuse ... is certainly not a defense to animal cruelty," Chynoweth said.

A UGA Greek system official did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment.

[Holly_P]

I cannot find the original article that I posted that would link to this one.

[sharkhawk]

Killing a raccoon is now a crime in Georgia? What about rats or flies?

[Liberal Classic]

Is racoon any good? I would think it would be gamier and tougher than rabit.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'd eat road kill possum before I'd eat fresh racoon. Yecckk to either.

[Bikers4Bush]

Those backwoods boys will eat anything.

A while ago I lived north of Atlanta and worked even farther north. You wouldn't believe some of the s%@# I saw.

If you ever get the chance to try "peach brandy" aka moonshine I recommend very very small sips until you know what it does.

[reed_inthe_wind]

If you plan on eating it, then its not senseless.

[kennedy]

I can't count the number of racoons that I trapped and skinned as a kid. I used to get $0.75 per pelt.

I never had any desire to eat one though.

[Mike-o-Matic]

   Raccoon killing draws interest of animal welfare group

I find this all rather ironic, because if there were a dead, rotting animal-rights protester lying in a ditch somewhere, it would most SURELY attract the attention of a number of raccoons.

:-p

[76834]

"The senseless killing of a raccoon is certainly a crime in Georgia. It's a violent crime,"

Senseless? at least they ate the damm thing, maybe they were hungry.
Also they could have gained a nice coon skin cap to boot.
Food and clothing, thats what we do with cattle, hogs, chickens etal
I fail to see anything wrong here

[Johnny_Cipher]

Does a critter have to have fur and be cute to fall under the busybody Humane Society's protection? THOUSANDS of ants, worms, flies, maggots, and assorted other insects are eaten, squashed, and otherwise murdered by humans on NBC's "Fear Factor" on a weekly basis. I don't see the HS holding any candlelight vigils for them.

"Humane" indeed ...

(tongue out of cheek)

[skip2myloo]

Well, my goodness -- didn't Ann Chynoweth ever watch The Beverly Hillbillys ??

"That 'coon is mighty tasty vittles Ma !!"

Now, maybe they took it out of season - or used an illegal method.

But, you can hardly call that a "senseless killing."

The taking of a game animal that may be rabid, now THAT IS senseless !!.

[N. Theknow]

I'd eat road kill possum before I'd eat fresh racoon. Yecckk to either.

Possum is rather tasty with potato, okra, and collard greens on the side, with fried cornbread.

And armadillo is possum on the half-shell.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Armadillo by Morning. One of my favorite George Strait songs.

[reed_inthe_wind]

You can't even claim that it is tasteless.

[Pontiac]

Those backwoods boys will eat anything.

I doubt that these were backwoods boys. Any country boy of college age would know better than to eat a sick animal.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Well see, if they had proper guns, they wouldn't have had to beat the critter to death.

[76834]

From recent news it seems like the big boys dont have a problem with turning sick cows into hamburger.
Whats the difference?

[ozzymandus]

People in some rural areas eat racoon all the time. I've tried it, and it's greasy and gamey, but not inedible. I'm not up on the game laws regarding coons, but I'd think the worst they could get these guys on would be hunting out of season or some minor violation like that.

[flying Elvis]

I wouldn't reccomend even small sips after seeing xrays of some moonshine drinkers in Bartow County, Georgia. About 8% of the lead poisoning cases in Atlanta hospitals is from moonshine.

[TheSpottedOwl]

If you ever get the chance to try "peach brandy" aka moonshine I recommend very very small sips until you know what it does.

Yeah, like that stuff actually tastes like "peaches". My ex had friends from childhood, and their father had a still...in the outskirts of the San Fernando Valley, CA. He grew his own white corn, and bottled this gawd awful crap in Mason jars. The family was originally from Tennessee. Anyway, the smell alone would cramp my stomach, nevermind the taste. I remember one year, they tried to charcoal filter the stuff. It didn't help.