Cold Spring Groundhog rescue an example of wildlife being displaced from natural habitat, police say
The department's officer in charge said Wednesday that wildlife and village life will clash again.
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Cold Spring police said the rescue of an injured groundhog from a snow bank in the village's downtown is one example of kindness and sensitivity in the community.
But they also say that this was not an isolated incident and is part of a trend people should look out for.
Despite a broken pelvis, the groundhog found suffering just off Main Street was calm and cuddly, possibly still in hibernation, according to officials.
Wildlife experts at Brewster Veterinary Hospital expect her to make a full recovery.
"We're going to do a little bit of TLC," Dr. Divia Persaud said, "Some pain medication, some antibiotics, physical therapy, restriction and hope for the best for her."
Cold Spring police said an officer was flagged down by a resident Tuesday morning to report an injured animal on Lunn Terrace.
The officer located the groundhog, curled up and bleeding, on the sidewalk behind a wall of plowed snow. He also found a pet carrier in the snowbank.
The officer managed to load the groundhog into the carrier and brought her to Brewster Vet.
Police think someone else previously tried and failed to rescue the groundhog, and then left the carrier behind so someone else could try to rescue her.
The groundhog's medical team said it is not uncommon for them to work with wild animals. They say their clinic is one of the few local options for wildlife care.
The team has worked with hawks, groundhogs and possums and is even currently caring for a fox.
Village police said wildlife incidents are becoming increasingly common for them as well. They said local construction projects, including work on a new hiking trail, could be pushing some wildlife into residential areas.
They have recently dealt with bears wandering into the village, displaced foxes, an injured hawk and even an eagle snatching a koi fish from a backyard pond and dropping it through a car window.
The department's officer in charge said Wednesday that wildlife and village life will clash again. He wants village residents to call the police anytime they see a displaced or injured animal.
