N.J. man allegedly killed squirrels with BB gun, hung them on fence

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Linden, N.J. man Richard Baird is accused of killing squirrels with a BB gun and hanging them from a fence

/ Handout/CBS New York

(CBS/WCBS) LINDEN, N.J. - A New Jersey man is charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly killed several squirrels with a BB gun and hung their bodies from a fence.

According to CBS New York, police in Linden filed the charges against 49-year-old Richard Baird after finding the animals hanging from a stockade fence in his backyard.

Det. Lt. James Sarnicki says he believes Baird was frustrated because the squirrels were crawling through a hole in the side of his house, CBS New York reports.

"He was frustrated to the point where he proceeded to put some peanut butter by a tree in one of his backyards to lure the squirrels to the peanut butter and then he was shooting them with a BB gun," Sarnicki reportedly said. "After he killed them, for some unexplainable reason, he was hanging their bodies from one of the fences in the backyard."

Baird reportedly could be fined between $250 and $1,000 if convicted. He also faces up to 6 months in prison and up to 30 days of community service at an animal shelter.

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by papouno July 21, 2012 1:44 PM EDT: For those of you that might not know this, it is legal to kill a squirrel in NJ. You have to show that you tired other means to get rid of it and that it was causing damage to your property. A squirrel is considered to be a radiant and just as you can kill a rat so can you kill a squirrel. But do you show off the rats when you kill them hanging them on a fence? You just get rid of it. If you check the statute of the law you will find out that I am correct. (New Jersey Statutes Annotated . Title 4. Agriculture and Domestic Animals. Chapter 22. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.)(; Reply to this comment


by Dan_Oblak June 15, 2012 1:01 PM EDT: I'm betting he would have been fine if the neighbor ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT FENCE hadn't reported him. REALLY wish the article had included the view from the opposite side, with their beady little eyes all staring at some homeowner who perhaps isn't best buddies with the 'squirrelsassin'...; Reply to this comment


by browniesanyone June 14, 2012 5:20 PM EDT: i have no problem with him killing those squirrels. they are nasty filthy destructive creatures. they scream and cackle all day in the trees and chew through everything. hanging them from the fence seems pretty stupid tho; Reply to this comment

by MHMatthews June 14, 2012 12:56 PM EDT

The individual responsible for such henious animal cruelty should be prohibited from interaction with ANY animals; the same is true of many of the previous individuals who posted. As part of his sentence, perhaps the County should have him pick up road kill, squirrels, raccoons, possums, even deer - with his bare hands. May Richard Baird's name be shackled to his animal cruelty on the internet forever.

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by Honeydog2007 June 17, 2012 5:48 PM EDT: Let me guess, you're a vegan.


by Martha12345 June 14, 2012 8:38 AM EDT: He should of cooked them up and invited the neighbors over for a special dinner.; Reply to this comment


by audemus June 14, 2012 5:24 AM EDT: Hell fire...ever body knows that hangin' what chu kill from yur fence poles whut cher 'sposed to do after huntin'

This here feller wuz jest prob'ly tryin' to scare the rest o them pesky varmits away frum his cabin, thas all...hell fire....; Reply to this comment


by bjj62 June 14, 2012 1:58 AM EDT: And how is a squirrel different from a mouse or a rat? Is it illegal to kill mice and rats as well in NJ? I understand that we must draw the line somewhere, but squirrels can be very annoying, they can carry disease and they can use your floorboards and attic space as a storage bin for apples and other fruits that rot and cause incredible damage to your structure. Yes, squirrels are cute, but so are the baby cows, chickens, and pigs that we eat for dinner. A legal exterminator probably would have done the job with poison or traps--now that is cruel.; Reply to this comment

by knewsteerrrrr June 14, 2012 12:21 AM EDT

Baird was frustrated because the squirrels were crawling through a hole in the side of his house,"

How about getting off his lazy fat azz and PATCHING the dam hole? I hope his house is robbed and burned out while he is in jail, would teach him a lesson.

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by Well_You_Aint_Me June 14, 2012 8:48 AM EDT: You do realize that the squirrels were most likely the vermin that created the hole in the fist place ...

AND...

Would likely just chew and gnaw another new hole into his house again.

Seen that done before. Only took them two evenings to get a new entrance.

by FormerUSMCSergeant June 13, 2012 10:54 PM EDT

So squirrel hunting is illegal in NJ?

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by knewsteerrrrr June 14, 2012 12:19 AM EDT: yes, animal torture and murder is legal there, for now


by ludvig1-2009 June 13, 2012 8:56 PM EDT: I remember riding back with my boss from my job on a dredge out in the Missouri River and I saw a girl I dated carrying a shotgun in one hand and a squirrel in the other. Dinner on the table.; Reply to this comment