March 12 (UPI) — Animal control officers in California were summoned to a high school to eject “a very unusual” trespasser: a badger hiding in a storage closet.
The Madera Police Department said on social media that animal control officers responded to Madera High School on Monday when a badger was discovered in a campus storage closet.
“While our officers handle a wide variety of calls, wildlife incidents like this are extremely rare,” the post said. “Situations involving wildlife are governed by specific state regulations regarding the capture and relocation of animals, which is why we rely on trained wildlife professionals for assistance.”
Animal control officers, assisted by biologist Dan Fidler of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fresno Unit, were able to safely capture the badger and remove it from the building.
“We appreciate the cooperation of school staff while the situation was resolved and are grateful for our partnerships with agencies like Fish and Wildlife that help ensure both public safety and the safe handling of wildlife,” police wrote.