Animal 411

PHOTO: Rarely Seen Bald Eagles Scavenge Deer Carcass on Frozen Reservoir off of Ponus Ridge

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Officials called to the Laurel Reservoir early Thursday on a report of a deer stuck on the ice came upon an unusual and rather gruesome scene: Two adult bald eagles picking at the dead mammal, it’s entrails spilled on the frozen water. A resident reported that the deer was alive as of early morning—the animal rescue call came in at 7:39 a.m.—and both New Canaan firefighters and NCPD Animal Control officials responded “as quickly as we could,” Officer Allyson Halm said. “It was already deceased” by the time they arrived at the reservoir off of upper Ponus Ridge, she said, “and the eagles were already having breakfast.”

According to Halm, a passerby who lives in the neighborhood told officials that the two eagles live in the area. A species unique to North America—the reason it was selected in 1782 by the Second Continental Congress as the national emblem—bald eagles mainly eat fish though they’ll also scavenge any edible mammal, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The Laurel Reservoir in New Canaan was created in 1923 to ensure Stamford’s water supply.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Seven women with direct connections to New Canaan—see the gallery above—will share their leadership experiences and encourage women and girls to pursue their goals in “Being Queen: Thoughts from the Throne,” a panel discussion hosted by NC Women Mean Business that will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at New Canaan Library. Read here for more information to this free, open event. ***

A New Canaan woman spotted a bobcat on her Canoe Hill Road property on Saturday morning—the sixth such sighting in one month of the reclusive feline. “I happened to be in the kitchen and turned and looked out the window and saw a bobcat on the front lawn,” Carol Miller said of her sighting at about 4:35 p.m. Saturday. “It meandered across the driveway and headed into the woods, and not a minute later there were six prancing deer that followed it.

News

Fire Chief: Water Pipes Freezing in Several New Canaan Homes on Sunday

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Sunday’s severe cold is freezing water pipes in several homes in New Canaan, officials said. Residents should know where their main water shut-off valve is located so that “in the event of a leak, they can reduce the damage to their residence,” Fire Chief Jack Hennessey told NewCanaanite.com. “It’s usually located next to the water meter or the well tank in the house,” he said. The National Weather Service reported subzero temperatures with the wind chill factor on Sunday evening. New Canaan is under an advisory, with snow expected Monday afternoon, turning to freezing rain and then back to snow overnight into Tuesday, the weather service said.

News

Resident Calls for Traffic Calming on Frogtown Near Weed Street

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The owner of three contiguous properties near the eastern end of Frogtown Road is asking town officials to help reduce the speed of motorists at the sharp bend there, down the hill from the intersection at Weed Street. Limited visibility creates a safety hazard at the curve that slopes down from Weed, and additional signage or speed bumps would help, according to a letter filed with the Traffic Calming Work Group by the owner of 96, 112 and 138 Frogtown—parcels that total about six acres on the south side of the road. Yet there are “not a lot more signs that you can put out there” beyond the multiple warning signs and reflecting arrow signs in place, Police Capt. John DiFederico said during the group’s most recent meeting. “We will continue to monitor it, with [officers] enforcing the speed limit,” DiFederico said during the Dec. 15 meeting, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department.

News

PHOTOS: Tour of Recently Renovated Fire Station

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Motorists passing the fire house on Main Street this week may have noticed a small construction crew working just outside the front door. They’re creating an ADA-compliant ramp—the final phase of an approximately $1.1 million renovation of the firehouse that’s taken about 18 months to complete and includes an elevator. We met up with Fire Chief Jack Hennessey for a brief tour of the headquarters—see the slideshow above.