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Residents are angry and horrified after a severed beaver tail was found nailed to a tree near a pond in one Central Massachusetts town last month.
Sterling Police found the tail nailed to the "Beavers No Gnawing" sign on a tree along Justice Hill Cutoff at Stuart Pond on Thursday, April 27, Animal Control Officer Kelly Jones told Daily Voice.
Jones determined the tail was nailed sometime between 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 20 and 7:15 a.m. on Friday, April 21 after getting footage from a Princeton resident.
After confirming that it was a real tail, officers removed and disposed of the tail.
CAUTION: the following image is graphic in nature
The incident sparked outrage among the community, with many residents commenting on a Facebook post from Newhouse Wildlife Rescue.
"There are no words...or laws....strong enough for something that disgusting and evil," one person commented. "I can't even bear to think about what that poor beaver went through."
"This is so awful and heartbreaking," another person commented. "I hope the find the person responsible. So very sad."
Jones said officials do not have a suspect and are unsure how the beaver was obtained or killed.
The department is asking anyone with information to contact Sterling Police Animal Control or the Environmental Police.
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