(HAMILTON TWP, ON) -On May 17, 2017 the Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) entered into an investigation of an incident that occurred on Plank Road in Gores Landing earlier in the week. As a result of information provided to the police it has been determined that on May 15, 2017 between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. a mid-sized 4-door blue sedan drove into the boat launch area with three occupants, two females and a male driver.
All appeared to be 16-18 years old. One of the female passengers exited the car with a ‘Huggies’ diaper box and placed it near the water’s edge (Rice Lake). She then climbed back into the car which drove off. A short time later a witness decided to look in the box and discovered that it contained what appeared to be an injured muskrat.
Investigators have identified the three youths involved and have ruled out any criminal behaviour. The investigation revealed that the local area youths had discovered the injured muskrat at the shoreline earlier in the day and taken it home where they (and a parent) attempted to contact the local animal shelter. After having no success, and on the advice of that parent, they returned the animal back to the shoreline in a box lined with a towel in the hopes its mother would find it and nurse it back to health.
Police are not ruling out that the injuries sustained by the muskrat are a result of a confrontation with another animal. The investigation is being deemed complete pending new information that would cause further police involvement.
Northumberland OPP would like to thank the public for their assistance in this matter.