Two Lehigh officers, Kevin O'Hay and Sgt. Eric Smith, got to the scene within minutes and sprang into action to help the distressed groundhog. As witnesses watched and waited with boxes to trap the groundhog, one of the officers tugged on the can to assess the situation.
The critter must have smelled something very tasty inside, Chief Ed Schupp suspects, because the label-less can wouldn't budge. With no luck, the officers tried a new technique. Smith grabbed a dog snare to get a grip on the can while O'Hay held onto the groundhog to slowly remove its metal helmet.
YouTube link. Original Facebook video.
The groundhog appeared to be uninjured and ran into the woods. Schupp said the department is used to handling animal calls, typically deer that might have wandered where they don't belong, stray dogs or rabid squirrels. This was the first time his officers have had to pull a groundhog out of a can. "That's why we're here," he said. "To help humans and animals, as well."
1 comment:
"... or rabid squirrels"
Actually, as far as I know, squirrel rabies is quite rare, with only one or two cases reported each year. Rabies in raccoons, dogs, cats, is much more prevalent. And bat rabies is apparently the biggest killer of humans, mainly because the bite is often unnoticed.
Someone with vet/animal knowledge please follow up/correct me on this.
Lurker111
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