Ohio Councilman Fined For Drowning Squirrels
By Steve Remington on Aug 13, 2007 in News
WOOSTER — A Smithville councilman admitted last month he illegally trapped squirrels and drowned them at the village park.
David E. Zimmerman, 66, of 150 W. Main St., pleaded guilty to seven wildlife violations filed in Wayne County Municipal Court by Ohio Wildlife Officer Eric Ucker. Zimmerman was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $675.
This is hilarious not because squirrels suffered a horrible death but because this hits main stream media. Though I am NOT against drowning squirrels (tongue in cheek), what on Earth is this guy doing? I can hear the outcries of the animal rights activists in the distance.
So why did Zimmerman wish death upon the cute cuddly animals… (ugly rat with a bushy tail)?
Despite his guilty plea, Zimmerman, in a Friday voice mail message said, “I have serious concern as do other residents in our area about the integrity of the system and its staff, considering the couple squirrels and the damage they inflected on our property and other surrounding properties.
“In our immediate neighborhood, the squirrels have entered the attic areas (of businesses and residences) and chewed off wiring that have made immediate repairs necessary,” he continued.
OK first off I don’t really care. What’s the difference if you trap rats with cheese and snap their brittle necks when they come to take a bite? Nothing. What actually bothered me most was this next piece.
“Once the squirrels were dead, Mr. Zimmerman disposed of them in the stream,” according to Ucker’s report.
He could have at least put them in a trash bag, tied it off, and sent it straight to the local dump. Why in the water supply? Anyway, thought you all would get a chuckle out of this…
councilman, David Zimmerman, Eric Ucker, kill ugly rats, ohio, squirrels, wildlifeIf you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Ithaca37 | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
He did not have to drown the squirrels. There are laws against it for a reason; it is cruel. Whether one likes the an animal or not does not give one the right to needlessly destroy it. Remember, while you are given dominion over animals, it does not entitle yo to treat with disrespect. All living things have the right to be treated humanely. Those who do not respect this with animals can not be trusted to respect the lives of humans.
“What’s the difference if you trap rats with cheese and snap their brittle necks when they come to take a bite?”
Big one, breaking the neck is about as quick and painless a death there could be, arguably better than poison. Drowning is not a quick and humane death. The facts is he did not have to kill these squirrels. He already had them under control in a trap. All he had to do was release them into the woods somewhere far enough away from his house so they wouldn’t come back.
As more powerful beings, we have an obligation to treat animals with respect and dignity. Simply because you can do something does not make it moral or just.
Steve Remington | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
Ithaca, you are right. Whether rats with a bushy tail are ugly or not doesn’t make it right for them to be drowned. I still thinks hilarious
Jeff | Mar 26, 2008 | Reply
“Remember, while you are given dominion over animals, it does not entitle yo to treat with disrespect.”
Speaking for God, are you?
“All living things have the right to be treated humanely. Those who do not respect this with animals can not be trusted to respect the lives of humans.”
Your logic is squirrely. The truth is often the opposite. People who are too enamored of animals usually try to give them more rights than they give to humans. This is because they are unable to form mature relationships with people and must form them with beings whose “love” they imagine to be unconditional.
andres | Aug 11, 2008 | Reply
When a hawk catches a rodent, squirrels included, they rip out their intestines while the rodent is still fully conscious. Drowning it would be far more humane by comparison. I’m trying to catch a squirrel that’s in my friends house. I might gas it using good ole chlorine but i will probably just throw it in the middle of the lake by my school at night. If the vermin doesn’t drown or becomes a mid night snack for nearly 50 gators that call the lake home…then i wont mess with it again. ORRRR I could always rip out its intestines, after all its only natural. = ) Happy Hunting