Groundhog Shot By Deputy Was For Public Safety: Report

ELDERSBURG, MD — An unusual officer-involved shooting occurred over the weekend in Carroll County. The victim in the fatal encounter was a groundhog.

The situation unfolded on Liberty Road at White Rock Road Sunday afternoon, according to reports.

"...the groundhog in question was walking into the roadway, causing vehicles to stop and causing a hazard," the Carroll County Sheriff's Office told Fox 45.

When the animal did not respond to orders to get out of the road and instead ran toward the officer, the deputy thought the groundhog might be injured or sick and fired his weapon to "put the animal down for the public's safety," officials told the news station.

The Carroll County Humane Society's executive director said that the behavior was "unusual," telling WBAL that when confronted, most wild animals would run away.

The organization retrieved the groundhog after the encounter on Liberty Road, according to WBAL, which reported no testing is planned since the animal did not have contact with anyone.

Pikesville resident Justyna Olkowska was on her way from work in Sykesville Sunday afternoon when she recorded what she thought was going to be a "cute encounter" with the groundhog, she told The Baltimore Sun. She said it was not her place to judge the officer's actions, but she added: "I am sure the officer did the best thing in this situation."

When she first posted the video on Facebook at 4:18 p.m. on Sunday, she said she was very distraught and stated: "I may be wrong, and he might have been doing his job but all I kept thinking was what if my little niece and nephew were in the car with me seeing this."

Image via Shutterstock.