A Chestnut Street resident is facing a petit larceny charge all because he reportedly didn't want to see some woodchucks that had been living in his yard taken away.
To Dale Edward Banfield, 50, of Batavia, the woodchucks were like pets.
To his landlord, they were pests who were destroying his property.
So the landlord hired a nuisance wildlife company to set traps and capture the little critters.
After they were captured and removed Saturday, Banfield drove out to the company's location in Corfu and asked for the woodchucks back.
The owner declined to return the woodchucks, so before leaving, Banfield allegedly grabbed the traps containing the woodchucks and left.
The traps were recovered, according to the Sheriff's Office, but the woodchucks are presumably off some where chucking wood.
No word on where the woodchucks might be, nor how many were trapped.
Banfield was charged with petit larceny and must appear in Town of Pembroke Court on July 12.
Deputy Ron Meides investigated the case of the woodchuck caper.
The traps were recovered,
The traps were recovered, according to the Sheriff's Office, but the woodchucks are presumably off some where chucking wood.
Made me laugh, Howard!! That was a good one.
At least in Pembroke they
At least in Pembroke they arrested the tenant who stole the traps. In the City of Batavia, some Council Members would be blaming the Landlord and trying to give the traps to Habitate for Humanity. :)
If he really wants woodchucks
If he really wants woodchucks for pets, he can have my PESTS. I have plenty to spare.
I would LOVE to have a
I would <b>LOVE</b> to have a woodchuck (or fat rat, as I call them) for a pet!! They are SO cute! Unfortunately, I do not know of a vet who could care for them. :(
Last Summer we were
Last Summer we were entertained with the Sue Coronna episode and now the Wood Chuck caper for our enjoyment.
When I would hunt with my
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q6Ti9xCX_M]
When I would hunt with my father we ate everything we killed. I hated hunting Woodchucks, the eating was OK but the cleaning was nasty and the chlorophyll smell was overpowering. I can still smell it, forty years later, as I type this. But don't believe the commercial, I saved $300 when I switched from GEICO to AAA, three years ago, for the exact same coverage.
Hopefully if he released
Hopefully if he released them,he did them back where he lived,and not in the country.I have seen ads for an annual woodchuck hunt,which I think is coming up.Can't stand the critters myself.
I think it's sweet! I know
I think it's sweet! I know people with outdoor cats who would be upset if someone had animal control take them. Maybe Mr. Banfield cares for wildlife and the landlord's a total jerk? Petit larceny for Mr. Banfield taking back his 'chucks? No, petit larceny for his landlord for stealing his 'chucks in the first place! If it's a matter of the 'chucks ruining the landlord's property, than that should be a claims dispute between the two of them.