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.

[driftless]

There are so many dead raccoons on Wisconsin roads every year that you could hold a raccoon barbecue large enough to feed the country for a year...at least it seems that way.

[Bonaparte]

"...my .177 pellet pistol..."

Coons on my property get an eyeful of Brinkman Q-Beam, followed by a nice, cold pressure hosing. :-)

[wardaddy]

lol....isn't it amazing how cheap a zillion candle power Qer is these days.

Back when we used to recon for ducks on the slough at night in the 70s, a nice Q-beam was costly

[luvbach1]

Doubt if they ate it, as in "consumed" it.

[Bonaparte]

Oh, yeah, I remember when just 100k CP was around $90. Now, I think 1 million runs about $25. The great thing about using it for varmint control is that for a couple of minutes, they're totally at your mercy. Turns them into an extremely attentive "pupil."

[Mike-o-Matic]

   Raccoons ... certainly wouldn't eat a dead Peta person.

That's a darn shame! They'd be performing a valuable community service.