EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – A raccoon is being rehabilitated after spending more than a day caught in a paw trap outside an Evansville home in 100-degree heat.
Neighbors contacted a news crew about the raccoon, saying they did not know where else to turn.
Neighbor describes frustration
Morgan Fletcher lives near Central High School. She said she spent the day making calls while watching the raccoon in the heat. The animal was caught in the paw trap sometime Tuesday night. She was interviewed at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
“Very frustrating because the people you think you’re supposed to call in situations like this, even if they’re the middleman and gonna guide you somewhere else, everyone was saying it unfortunately you know you know people are able to trap pests and animals on their own property,” Fletcher said.
“It’s heart wrenching because an animal is an animal. I don’t care if it’s a dog, a cat, a raccoon,” Fletcher said.
Wildlife professionals say paw traps are legal
Wildlife professionals said the rules governing the traps are tricky. Most licensed pest control companies prefer cage traps, but paw traps are technically allowed.
“If you go black and white, everything that is being done here is legal,” said David Fisher, of Nuisance Wildlife Control.
Fletcher responded, “See that’s what infuriates me. That’s what needs to change.”
Fisher replied, “Thank you.”
Raccoon removed, taken for rehabilitation
At nearly 4 p.m. Wednesday, the raccoon was removed from the trap. A wildlife professional took the animal and said he will rehabilitate and keep it.
“I’ve cried a few times over it, and it’s it’s it’s hard in here because I relate to animals and have care. I don’t wanna know if there’s a stray dog walking down the street. I’ll think about it all day. I will wonder. It’s the same thing here, but it’s emotional because I want everyone to care the way I care,” Fletcher said.
Limited options for wildlife calls
Animal Control in Evansville does not handle wildlife calls. Professionals said there are not many options for emergency wildlife situations. One professional said he often responds to these calls free of charge because of the lack of options.
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