Important Information for Rabbit Hunters
Written by M.C.Bass
Just thought I'd drop you a line with a brief update on a devastating
situation that continues to haunt rabbit hunters in Kingsbury... I'm an
avid rabbit hunter, though I do not guide rabbit hunts. I have a beagle
whom I've not hunted in quite some time, simply for fear of losing a pet
beloved by myself, my wife, and my son. Despite my dog and I's love for
harvesting hares, I could not bear the thought of coming home to inform
my son and wife that Bud the Beagle was killed while hunting. I never
used to have fear of hunting my dog, with the exception of worrying
about him crossing the wrong road at the wrong time. That was prior to
the killings of many beagles in the townships of Kingsbury and Mayfield.
My dog's breeder and I have been good friends since I got my beagle, and
he has shown me the ropes of rabbit hunting which I plan to share w/ my
son as he gets older. The situation in Kingsbury was at first a simple
matter of dead dogs being buried. This happens, and any avid hunter
realizes that this can occur in big woods or in your back yard.
However, since the occassional beagle death started to become a regular
occurence, I've grown increasingly suspect of what is prowling along
Crocket Ridge near Palmer Pond in Kingsbury. My dog's breeder, Mike
Rizzo of Smithfield, also a Maine Guide, has had 8 of his own beagles
killed and buried. 7 of these dogs he has recovered via tracking
collar. In addition to these dogs, an additional 4 dogs of Rizzo's
clients have also been killed and buried while hunting with Mike. Most
of these were also recovered.
The last occurence for Mike was in 2007. He hasn't been hunting in the
region since, it is too costly for him, especially considering much of
his livelihood is guiding fellow beaglers. It wasn't until early
October of this year that I got wind of another guide (Art Corson, Radar
Ridge Guide Service) losing a dog, also buried. This dog was found in
the same vicinity as Rizzo's.
I guide part time, but to make ends meet I do GIS and mapping for
full-time work. I have produced a map showing the locations of the
buried dogs. I am sending this email as a concerned rabbit hunter and
family man. This is a very popular area to hunt rabbits, and I am
certain others have likely lost dogs as well. I've only heard of these
13 dogs being killed in the last 4 years. I'm sure there likely are
more as whatever is roaming in the area taking dogs believes a that
beagle music is the ringing of a dinner bell.
An autopsy from Maine IF&W indicates this is likely the work of a bobcat
or a coyote. Coyote's do not cache their food. Autopsy also indicated
heavy bruising on head and neck of the dog and the only incisor marks
appeared to be marks carrying the dead dog to a cache location. Large
felines are known to take prey by ambushing and bludgeoning the head
with their powerful forepaws, and then biting the neck for the kill.
This behavior coincides pretty well with the autopsy findings. The
incisor spacing indicate bobcat and being too small for cougar.
Regardless of what type of feline it is or they are, the Kingsbury area
is not safe for rabbit hounds currently. Whether it be one bobcat,
several, or one cougar or several, Mike has lost up to 3 dogs in one day
on one occassion and two dogs in a morning on another occassion. This
situation is severe, and I feel this report would assist in: 1)
preventing more rabbit hunters from having their dogs killed. 2) assist
in identifying the predator taking the beagles. 3) increase awareness
among rabbit hunters and cat hunters in the area. Rabbit hunters should
avoid it. Cat hunters may want to check out Crockett Ridge or Palmer
Pond.
As a sportsman, pet owner, and family man, I can't stress enough how
important it is to at a minimum PLEASE publish the attached map to
increase public awareness and (hopefully) prevent more dogs from being
killed in Kingsbury. I can reproduce the map at different scales,
sizes, graphic formats, or backdrops as necessary to make it more
publication friendly. I've attached the map with photo background and a
topo background. Please get back to me on this matter at your earliset
convenience.
Thanks for your time and thanks in advance for your consideration and
immediate response to this situation. Feel free to contact me at any
time for further information.
Levi Ladd
Registered Maine Guide
MooseKat Guide Service
56 Grant Road
Saint Albans, ME 04971
207-416-5644
www.moosekat.com
situation that continues to haunt rabbit hunters in Kingsbury... I'm an
avid rabbit hunter, though I do not guide rabbit hunts. I have a beagle
whom I've not hunted in quite some time, simply for fear of losing a pet
beloved by myself, my wife, and my son. Despite my dog and I's love for
harvesting hares, I could not bear the thought of coming home to inform
my son and wife that Bud the Beagle was killed while hunting. I never
used to have fear of hunting my dog, with the exception of worrying
about him crossing the wrong road at the wrong time. That was prior to
the killings of many beagles in the townships of Kingsbury and Mayfield.
My dog's breeder and I have been good friends since I got my beagle, and
he has shown me the ropes of rabbit hunting which I plan to share w/ my
son as he gets older. The situation in Kingsbury was at first a simple
matter of dead dogs being buried. This happens, and any avid hunter
realizes that this can occur in big woods or in your back yard.
However, since the occassional beagle death started to become a regular
occurence, I've grown increasingly suspect of what is prowling along
Crocket Ridge near Palmer Pond in Kingsbury. My dog's breeder, Mike
Rizzo of Smithfield, also a Maine Guide, has had 8 of his own beagles
killed and buried. 7 of these dogs he has recovered via tracking
collar. In addition to these dogs, an additional 4 dogs of Rizzo's
clients have also been killed and buried while hunting with Mike. Most
of these were also recovered.
The last occurence for Mike was in 2007. He hasn't been hunting in the
region since, it is too costly for him, especially considering much of
his livelihood is guiding fellow beaglers. It wasn't until early
October of this year that I got wind of another guide (Art Corson, Radar
Ridge Guide Service) losing a dog, also buried. This dog was found in
the same vicinity as Rizzo's.
I guide part time, but to make ends meet I do GIS and mapping for
full-time work. I have produced a map showing the locations of the
buried dogs. I am sending this email as a concerned rabbit hunter and
family man. This is a very popular area to hunt rabbits, and I am
certain others have likely lost dogs as well. I've only heard of these
13 dogs being killed in the last 4 years. I'm sure there likely are
more as whatever is roaming in the area taking dogs believes a that
beagle music is the ringing of a dinner bell.
An autopsy from Maine IF&W indicates this is likely the work of a bobcat
or a coyote. Coyote's do not cache their food. Autopsy also indicated
heavy bruising on head and neck of the dog and the only incisor marks
appeared to be marks carrying the dead dog to a cache location. Large
felines are known to take prey by ambushing and bludgeoning the head
with their powerful forepaws, and then biting the neck for the kill.
This behavior coincides pretty well with the autopsy findings. The
incisor spacing indicate bobcat and being too small for cougar.
Regardless of what type of feline it is or they are, the Kingsbury area
is not safe for rabbit hounds currently. Whether it be one bobcat,
several, or one cougar or several, Mike has lost up to 3 dogs in one day
on one occassion and two dogs in a morning on another occassion. This
situation is severe, and I feel this report would assist in: 1)
preventing more rabbit hunters from having their dogs killed. 2) assist
in identifying the predator taking the beagles. 3) increase awareness
among rabbit hunters and cat hunters in the area. Rabbit hunters should
avoid it. Cat hunters may want to check out Crockett Ridge or Palmer
Pond.
As a sportsman, pet owner, and family man, I can't stress enough how
important it is to at a minimum PLEASE publish the attached map to
increase public awareness and (hopefully) prevent more dogs from being
killed in Kingsbury. I can reproduce the map at different scales,
sizes, graphic formats, or backdrops as necessary to make it more
publication friendly. I've attached the map with photo background and a
topo background. Please get back to me on this matter at your earliset
convenience.
Thanks for your time and thanks in advance for your consideration and
immediate response to this situation. Feel free to contact me at any
time for further information.
Levi Ladd
Registered Maine Guide
MooseKat Guide Service
56 Grant Road
Saint Albans, ME 04971
207-416-5644
www.moosekat.com
