by Jeff Johnston - Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Headlines:
Arizona Spends $1.25M to Save 250 Squirrels
81-Year-old Sentenced to 30 days in Jail for Shooting Squirrel
The Summary:
William Thomas, 81, grew tired of the neighborhood squirrels tearing up hisproperty so he took a pellet gun and snuffed one. The army veteran is now serving 30 days in a New York jail for animal abuse.
Inanother story, rope bridges are to be erected over a portion of Arizona highway in an attempt to protect the remaining population of 250 Mount Graham red squirrels. The project is expected to cost $1.25 million.
Jeff’s Take:
I don’t know all the facts (perhaps he didn’t have a hunting license), and you can see that I love squirrels (and squirrel meat), but it seems a little extreme to me to send gramps to the hoosegow for killing a squirrel on his own property. It also seems a little ridiculous to spend over a mil for a few rope bridges (i.e. "canopy tunnel crossings") that might or might not help the rare squirrels. I’m all for saving animals from the brink of extinction, but is the rope braided from platinum or what? How should I know? I’m just a simple squirrel hunter.
Recommended Gear:
Have a Heart squirrel repellant. Although I couldn’t find a surefire product for saving squirrels, I did find this squirrel screen saver. Isn’t the future meal cute!?
