DNR euthanizes 60 raccoons

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DNR euthanizes 60 raccoons

By EDWARD MARSHALL, Journal Staff Writer


MARTINSBURG - Officers with the Division of Natural Resources staged a raid at the home of a purportedly recognized wildlife rehabilitation specialist in Berkeley County Thursday, seizing euthanizing 60-65 wild raccoons.
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...Hoffman-Butler said she has been rehabilitating injured, sick and abandoned animals since 2004. She said she is a certified member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association, International Wildlife Rehabilitation Association and is recognized in several states as animal rehabilitation specialist. She also volunteers with the Humane Society of Washington, D.C. "Everybody knows who I am. Everybody knows what I do," she said. "This was absolutely heinous. They came in and killed all of my animals."

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Several DNR conservation officers as well as a Berkeley County Sheriff's deputy arrived at the woman's home at about noon. Under a veterinarian's supervision all the raccoons were euthanized on site. There was a handful of baby raccoons that were destroyed as well as one that was a veterinary case study, according to Butler-Hoffman. That animal had been hit by a car in Ranson and suffered a compound fracture. A metal rod was inserted into the animal's leg to repair the broken bone.

Officers wearing protective biohazard suits and breathing masks could be seen going in and out of the barn-like shed where the animals where located.

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