Sloatsburg man charged with keeping “pet” squirrel

SLOATSBURG – A Sloatsburg man has been ticketed by a state environmental conservation officer for keeping a gray squirrel in his basement apartment
The officer was surprised to find the squirrel and a house cat in the same cage.
Police said the man was cooperative during the investigation. The officer explained that the gray squirrel is a protected species and is not allowed to be kept as a pet.
The resident, who police did not identify, was ticketed for possessing a wild animal without a permit.
The squirrel was released back into the wild.