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Posts: 1,836Teddy bear massacre strikes state hatchery
Toy clogs pool drain, killing 2,500 trout
MILFORD – What kind of bear would kill 2,500 trout and not eat any of them?
Why, none other than an unassuming teddy bear with bright yellow rain gear.
How the stuffed animal found its way into a pool of rainbow trout at the Fish and Game Department hatchery is anyone’s guess. The bear hasn’t said a word.
But sometime Sept. 6, the fluffy toy clogged the pool drain, said Robert Fawcett, supervisor of the state’s hatcheries. Every fish in the pool suffocated once the bear clogged the flow of oxygen, he said.
The hatchery on North River Road is open daily for tours. A child would seem to be the likely owner of the bear, but Fish andGame employees can’t even begin to surmise.
“It’s almost silly, but it’s real,” Fawcett said. “It’s a cute little teddy bear, but the fact that it was dropped without anyone knowing caused the fish to die.”
Frogs and other real animals have clogged hatchery pools before, but never a stuffed bear.
For hatchery employees and visitors, the moral of this fish story is to always be aware of what goes near the water. In the wake of the deaths, Fawcett issued a warning: “RELEASE OF ANY TEDDY BEARS into the fish hatchery water IS NOT PERMITTED.”
Fawcett added in a telephone interview Monday: “Our water supplies at our hatcheries are our life line. Stuff shouldn’t be getting in there.”
It appears the Fish and Game Department won’t press charges against the bear.
The raincoat and hat may have helped preserve the fuzzy animal. After his dip, he “looks a little ratty but not too bad,” Fawcett said.
Built in 1973, the Milford hatchery is one of six in the state supervised by the Fish and Game Department. The hatchery raises rainbow, brook and brown trout, as well as tiger trout – a crossbreed between brook and brown trout – in outdoor pools and two rearing ponds.
Pumpkin & Pickle Bears:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: Who would have thought that sweet innocent little bruin would've caused all that mayhem??!!! 
Oh Dear! - such an innocent little Bear.
His owner must be missing him so much.
Hugs
Carolyn
WienNo kidding! Must have been one of Penpen´s teddy bears from hell :crackup:
Too bad that so many fish had to die, just because somebody didn´t watch out for a second... 
Gaby
Baird'sBears
Awwwww, poor little dude--I hope his master or mistress claims him soon . . . he looks so sad 
Bears by JodiOH MY !!!! The poor little bear, and the owner !!! They better not say a word they may have to pay for the misshape.That would be really bad !!!!
Posts: 8,574dilu
Posts: 3,177HAR HAR HAR - naughty likkle bear!!!!!
He obviously ate as many fish as he could then tried to commit beary hari-kiri by stuffing himself in the drain and taking as many of the uneaten fish with him!
:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
What a Star! He looks pretty good despite his ordeal don't he? Obviously a surviver.
PenPen 
Posts: 3,177No kidding! Must have been one of Penpen´s teddy bears from hell :crackup:
Too bad that so many fish had to die, just because somebody didn´t watch out for a second...Gaby :rose:
'Ere Gaby....................i just read your post...............YOU CHEEKY MONKEY 
:crackup:
All my bears from hell are accounted for so it was'nt one of mine ha ha ha
PenPen
WienOuchouch!! Me poor widdle monkey!!!!
:crackup:
Dunno why I immideately thought about your bears when reading chrissy´s post... 
... I just dunno! :crackup:
:hug: Gaby
Poor little bear.....he looks so tramatized.....he really didn't mean to kill the fish, he just wanted to see them up close........poor fish, probably horrified when they saw the bear.....Bear just wanted to play with them all.......... oh all the trama they all went through! So sad
pandamac
