In Memory of Zorra Why some rules are so wrong

On 9-17-08 the Colorado Division of Wildlife used a search warrant to seize Zorra, a very special raccoon, due to en evil, spiteful phonecall from a Jon Jolicoeur. The CDOW forbid me to see Zorra for the 13 days they kept her in conditions she was not accustomed to and despite admitting that she was depressed and not eating. Their demands upon releasing Zorra forced her out of state and into further stress, killing her within weeks and only a day before I got to see her again and keep her forever. The prohibition against raccoons is unjust, they are not even allowed sanctuary in CO. Why? No justifiable reason. A petition has been filed to allow restrictive, responsible possession, only by qualified, licensed people and for unreleasable raccoons.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• raccoon
• zorra
• pet raccoon
• jon jolicoeur
• sunchaser wildlife

[corvidgirl]

I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. I was totally moved by this video. I can say for a fact that MANY wildlife regulations DO NOT make biological sense. If she was in California she would have been euthanized. Fish and game only see raccoons as a pestilence and rabies vectors. Each and every animal is an individual. Zorra would have lived well beyond her "wild" raccoon years being loved and safe with you. You gave her a life of love,comfort shelter and no threat of predation. Karma happens!

[SunChaserWildlife]

@MxRider710 PS. In raising a few other raccoons, believe me I have also had a few moments that reminded me of the movie Marley & Me, lol. In fact I have to go pay for a library book today that isn't exactly returnable ;) But this is my choice, even in spite of keeping a clean tidy home and having to make all the adaptations to keep it that way (ie, coon-proof - which is kind of an oxy-moron). The rewards outweigh the sacrifices for me. I should have that right in any state for a NR animal

[SunChaserWildlife]

@threeby8887 I think this question needs to be asked back at you, sir. As in what you would have done if someone acted so evil upon you. Realize you don't know the whole story, yet.

[SunChaserWildlife]

@threeby8887 Guess you'll have to read the book when it comes out and tells whole story. You will see how spiteful and uncalled for Jolicoeur's actions were. No good deed goes unpunished. Many would do much worse than just expose a name. It's 100% truth and on public record. He wanted his "game thief" reward money as well as punishing me by killing something I loved dearly. He fully knew what the outcome would be and had sworn on his mothers life he would never do that. A month later he did.

[SunChaserWildlife]

@threeby8887 My statement was about being a sportsman, about respecting nature, about being HUMAN. Didn't say you do it, said no respectable, intelligent person would. Drowing and relocation is NOT humane. Box traps can greatly harm animal, fear is horrible for any animal. Humans would overall choose fear over pain, but fear for an animal is worse than we comprehend. "PEST" is opinion, not a species. The raccoon is mammal like dog, not a rodent. Raccoons keep rodents away, better than cats.

[threeby8887]

@TheRaccoonMom As I said earlier, how would you like it if someone who had a disagreement with you posted your name online?  Or did the same to one of your family?

[threeby8887]

@SunChaserWildlife And I still say you were wrong to post that person's name online. How would you like it if someone did that to you because they had a beef with you?

[threeby8887]

@SunChaserWildlife Who said anything about poisoning nuisance animals? Read my posts, and you'll see I'm against poisoning animals. I have no problem with shooting them, and that's the only way I am okay with dispatching them (except for drowning, but only in the case of skunks, so they do not spray), although I actually prefer trapping and relocating them to a far away wilderness area.

And "ratcoon" is a deliberate typo used to make a point about what pests they are.

[TheRaccoonMom]

@threeby8887 Are you kidding me? His name shouldn't have been posted? And, just why NOT? He should not have to see what he's done? He is a small minded, selfish little man who is so unhappy within himself that he couldn't stand to see someone else happy.

[SunChaserWildlife]

@generalderson Excellent question.

[generalderson]

I understand your loss. I had raised a baby raccoon which I had to give up after being drafted for Vietnam War. We shared 3 years of being my buddy. He never hurt anyone. So the government trained me to kill. What is wrong with this story ?

[SunChaserWildlife]

@threeby8887 Had this been an accident, or anything less than pure, spiteful evil - you would be right. Evil thrives in darkness.

ugh, Judging by your cruel, hateful remarks about "ratcoons" ... I'm assuming your second comment was a typo. threeby, Supporting hunting is NOT about taking part in inflicting suffering, poisons, etc upon urban/suburban wildlife animals. That is cruelty, period. Hunting is fair chase, quick-kill,... it once had ethics. Harming, killing... is just that- Killing.