At least that's what the person who taped the video said they were speaking was French
Virginia resident catches squirrel kick on video
Aug 6, 6:52 PM (ET)
By FELICIA FONSECA
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A Virginia resident on his first trip to the Grand Canyon started recording when he saw a squirrel approach two men, thinking they would be bitten.
Jon Hildebrand said he was stunned when one of the French-speaking men kicked the squirrel over the edge and into the air. He later posted his video on YouTube, and it went viral.
Authorities at the Grand Canyon are investigating the incident and the authenticity of the video that Hildebrand said he shot early last week at one of the overlooks at the east rim. Authorities say the chances of finding the man who kicked the squirrel are slim.
"I was in such utter shock," Hildebrand told The Associated Press. "I thought, 'Do people do this at the Grand Canyon?' "
Hildebrand, a brother and a friend left the Hampton Roads area of Virginia for a road trip across the West, visiting places like Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Phoenix. He said he stepped away from his group at the Grand Canyon to take a picture at the edge. That's when he saw two shirtless men wearing shorts and cowboy hats feeding the squirrel.
The video he shot shows the squirrel follow a trail of food one of the men laid out before he puts on a shoe and kicks the animal. Hildebrand, 24, said the two men started laughing, grabbed their clothes and ran off. No one else was around at the time, he said.
"I was so dumbfounded in the moment, that I didn't know what to do," he said.
Grand Canyon Chief Ranger Bill Wright said authorities hadn't spoken to Hildebrand as of Wednesday morning. His original post no longer appears on YouTube, which has policies that prohibit videos depicting animal abuse. A YouTube spokeswoman said the company doesn't comment on specific content.
Park officials have been receiving emails and phone calls from people appalled by the man's behavior. The group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, offered a $15,000 reward Wednesday for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Hildebrand said he's hopeful the men can be identified.
Wright said intentionally kicking a squirrel would violate federal laws that prohibit disturbing or harassing wildlife. The maximum penalty would be six months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. The video capturing the incident and the public outrage has put more pressure on Grand Canyon authorities to investigate, he said.
"If it wasn't for that, I don't know how much more time we'd spend on it," Wright said. "People are very concerned."
Looks like he left him a trail of bread crumbs or some food to get him close enough to the edge and boom, I hope it was Rocky the flying squirrel because he better have had wings.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Too bad the ******* didn't stumble and go over the edge himself.
That's what I was thinking.
I know there are a lot of people and I mean a lot that look at killing an animal as nothing. I believe there is a distinct difference in how and why any killing is done. To some it is an arduous task if not a painful necessity. To others a act of no consequence and comeplete unconcerned ignorance being totally unconcerned of any value of life except their own. Then there are those I believe to be truly sick ****ed up individuals that get some kind fulfilment and even enjoyment from creating pain,being the cause of pain of even just viewing it.
Something to note. There must be more categories outside or in between because I have little compunction for the sick **** that kicked that squirrel.
But why is ok to kill mice, gophers, moles, insects and spiders?
I only kill rats... not mice. I rarely see rats, but I will ****ing kill those sons of bitches because they are nasty as ****.
Spiders, sometimes... only because I think that if given the chance, they would try to kill me first if they could.
We have iguanas, lizards, peacocks, parakeets and other annoying animals. Except for the lizards, they pretty much leave me alone... but I always catch the lizards and set them free outside. Not sure how they get in though... they must sneak in.
But why is ok to kill mice, gophers, moles, insects and spiders?
The general rule is, #1 if it is (or can) damage my property its choices are leave of its own accord, or #2 die. If it is (or has the potential to) cause me (or my friends/family/livestock/pets) pain or bodily harm then it looses option #1
I just wish I could apply the same rules to humans.
Oh, yeh----if it is tasty on the BBQ it has no options, its on there.
[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 08-07-2014).]
Now THAT would have been awesome! Love me some good ole fashion irony
Yeah, the fact that his buddy was shooting video of the whole performance would've made it especially awesome. Sick ****ing bastards.
quote
Originally posted by pokeyfiero:
Then there are those I believe to be truly sick ****ed up individuals that get some kind fulfilment and even enjoyment from creating pain, being the cause of pain of even just viewing it.
Those are the sick ****ing bastards that need to be removed from the gene pool.
I really hate squirrels. They cause us untold amounts of damage every year. Most of those times when you hear a kaboom and the lights go out, and you say "a transformer blew up", is usually because a squirrel has skillfully stepped from the hot side of the line to the grounded transformer case. This blows the transformer fuse (yes, they have fuses) and also blows the squirrel into the middle of next year.
Having said that, regarding the topic at hand...
quote
Originally posted by Red88FF: Not to mention a real mean dickhead thing to do. In my book that is repeated punch in the nose worthy.
Hmmmm....now ya got me thinking. Moose and Squirrel sausage with some jalapeno in the mix, BBQ on a toasted bun and topped with cheddar and onions. Might be good. <yeh, ok I am hungry right now >
[QUOTE]Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: I only kill rats... not mice. I rarely see rats, but I will ****ing kill those sons of bitches because they are nasty as ****.
Spiders, sometimes... only because I think that if given the chance, they would try to kill me first if they could.
QUOTE]
Melanie had a college intern here one summer who said her mother told her
"We eat a dozen spiders in our sleep before we die !"
I don't know if the mother had a mean streak or was just a twisted individual as this guy was.
I visited the Grand Canyon last year. They are not going to find him. There are thousands of people that go through the site every hour. Someone that knows him would have to positively identify him which is a remote chance.
I know what you mean, he certainly wasn't planning on going to fetch it and have squirrel for dinner, or protect the Grand Canyon's vegetable garden.
Yeh, most of use (well, those of us that grew up with guns) learned by about age 6 that there is no sport in killing for sport....but then they don't grow up with guns in France.
Yeh, most of use (well, those of us that grew up with guns) learned by about age 6 that there is no sport in killing for sport....but then they don't grow up with guns in France.
You would be surprised how many people are hunters in France, especially southern France. I know that because my parents live there. They just don't walk around with guns at Walmart (or Carrefour for that matter)...
Nope....those "idiots" are perfectly aware that an armed robbery is MUCH more common in wall-mart than it is in the mountains, so dress appropriately They are also aware that the type of individual who would commit the armed robbery doesn't give a damn for CC laws or permits or anything else, and HIS gun is probably the proceeds of yet ANOTHER robbery, so they have the appropriate mindset towards the armed robber <sheeeeeettttt, when can we start considering tax collectors to be "armed robbers"? >
what you chose to kill on your property is far different than in a national park
Not as different as you'd like to think. "Disturbing or harassing wildlife" is illegal most places, or at least some "animal cruelty" laws would apply. Only because "Behaving Like A Dick" isn't specifically against the law.
Anyway, must have been a slow news day. While I agree that it was a mean thing to do, I also don't think it's newsworthy.
Think of this: if nobody had posted a video on YouTube, it would have been a non-issue. Nobody would have known or cared about it. Even if word had gotten out via word-of-mouth, it probably still would be a non-issue. But now that there's a video plastered all over the internet, suddenly it's a big deal, and something needs to be done about it NOW. These people need to PAY for their crime against Nature!
I was referring to the idiots who kicked the squirrel - you got that, right?
Nope, my bad, I read it as referring to armed wall-mart shoppers as idiots....Its wall-mart shoppers with TOY guns acting like idiots that get themselves in trouble, like this guy http://www.wsoctv.com/news/...-shot-killed-/ngxTX/
But why is ok to kill mice, gophers, moles, insects and spiders?
Some of those are varmints. Aren't there special rifles for doing them in just for sport?
Ruger No. 1 Varmint rifle in .223 Remington with heavy barrel, bipod rest, large telescopic sight, and "dope" sheet on the stock for windage
quote
Grand Canyon Rock Squirrels-South Rim
Grand Canyon Rock Squirrels are notoriously cute. People come from all over the world and take dozens of pictures of these cute, furry animals. The tourists love the Rock Squirrels because they seem to be so approachable, and they seem so safe to feed. WRONG!!! These little critters inflict more harm on tourists than the canyon does. The Rock Squirrels at Grand Canyon ruin vacations daily. How? They bite, and they bite hard. Rock Squirrels have the sharpest teeth of any animal in Grand Canyon and they are more than happy to spill your blood as they take food from your hands. Rock Squirrels are extremely bold. They will crawl into your lap, take your food, and bite you in the process. The Rock Squirrel carries disease, such as rabies and even bubonic plague. That's right, "The Black Death". Although cases are rare, the disease can be carried by fleas that are on the Rock Squirrels.
Anyway, must have been a slow news day. While I agree that it was a mean thing to do, I also don't think it's newsworthy.
Think of this: if nobody had posted a video on YouTube, it would have been a non-issue. Nobody would have known or cared about it. Even if word had gotten out via word-of-mouth, it probably still would be a non-issue.
I've got to respectfully disagree. It's not unusual for twisted individuals to start with animals, and then gravitate to torturing/killing people. So if that bastard and his buddy got stiff enough erections from punting that squirrel off the edge of the canyon, maybe next time they'd try it with some lost kid.
Guys like that have a screw loose. It's best to at least keep tabs on them... only because they can't be gassed.
I've got to respectfully disagree. It's not unusual for twisted individuals to start with animals, and then gravitate to torturing/killing people. So if that bastard and his buddy got stiff enough erections from punting that squirrel off the edge of the canyon, maybe next time they'd try it with some lost kid.
Guys like that have a screw loose. It's best to at least keep tabs on them... only because they can't be gassed.
This is the lynch mob mentality that I was talking about.
While it's true that many serial killers start out practicing on animals, it does not mean that everyone who is cruel to animals will become a serial killer. That's a logical fallacy.
And IMO, it's pretty demented to suggest "having someone gassed", simply based on an assumption of what that person may end up doing sometime in the future.
I've got to respectfully disagree. It's not unusual for twisted individuals to start with animals, and then gravitate to torturing/killing people. So if that bastard and his buddy got stiff enough erections from punting that squirrel off the edge of the canyon, maybe next time they'd try it with some lost kid.
Guys like that have a screw loose.
A few years ago, someone found some pics of animals that one of the students at my wife's school had tortured and killed. People knew who did it, but nobody could do anything "because they were just animals" or some stupid sh!t. About a year after that, there was a murder/suicide (actually a suicide pact because of alleged parental interference) at the school. The shooter? The same guy. Shot his g/f then shot himself.
Bad people are just... bad. They seem to make no distinction. Not that everybody who abuses animals will turn into a serial killer, but it seems like an excellent place to start.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-09-2014).]
Some of those are varmints. Aren't there special rifles for doing them in just for sport?
Ruger No. 1 Varmint rifle in .223 Remington with heavy barrel, bipod rest, large telescopic sight, and "dope" sheet on the stock for windage
[QUOTE]Grand Canyon Rock Squirrels-South Rim
Grand Canyon Rock Squirrels are notoriously cute. People come from all over the world and take dozens of pictures of these cute, furry animals. The tourists love the Rock Squirrels because they seem to be so approachable, and they seem so safe to feed. WRONG!!! These little critters inflict more harm on tourists than the canyon does. The Rock Squirrels at Grand Canyon ruin vacations daily. How? They bite, and they bite hard. Rock Squirrels have the sharpest teeth of any animal in Grand Canyon and they are more than happy to spill your blood as they take food from your hands. Rock Squirrels are extremely bold. They will crawl into your lap, take your food, and bite you in the process. The Rock Squirrel carries disease, such as rabies and even bubonic plague. That's right, "The Black Death". Although cases are rare, the disease can be carried by fleas that are on the Rock Squirrels.
This is the lynch mob mentality that I was talking about.
???
quote
Originally posted by Blacktree:
While it's true that many serial killers start out practicing on animals, it does not mean that everyone who is cruel to animals will become a serial killer. That's a logical fallacy.
I never suggested that at all. Please read what I posted again.
quote
Originally posted by Blacktree:
And IMO, it's pretty demented to suggest "having someone gassed", simply based on an assumption of what that person may end up doing sometime in the future.
Oh come on, eh... you really think I was serious about having twisted individuals such as that "gassed" for killing a squirrel? As much as I'd like to threaten cruel bastards with that fate, I realize it would need to be put off until they potentially gravitate from animals to people.
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
It's not unusual for twisted individuals to start with animals, and then gravitate to torturing/killing people. So if that bastard and his buddy got stiff enough erections from punting that squirrel off the edge of the canyon, maybe next time they'd try it with some lost kid.
Guys like that have a screw loose. It's best to at least keep tabs on them... only because they can't be gassed.
Bad people are just... bad. They seem to make no distinction. Not that everybody who abuses animals will turn into a serial killer, but it seems like an excellent place to start.
Yeah, you sort of wonder... were these people born with crossed wires, or did something awful happen in their lives to twist them in this manner? We may never know the answer... but obviously it's best to be aware that "bad people" are out there, and to be prepared to deal with them if the need arises.
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