Timber Bear, a silver fox, in the Waldoboro home of Danielle Katherina Brann on Monday, Feb. 12. The fox was seized by Maine game wardens on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Brann was issued a summons for unlawful possession of wildlife without a permit, according to a Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife spokesperson said Friday, Feb. 16. (Molly Rains photo)
On Wednesday, Feb. 14, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Maine game wardens confiscated a silver fox from the Waldoboro residence of Danielle Katherina Brann.
In a Friday, Feb. 16 email, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Communications Director Mark Latti said Brann was issued “a summons for unlawful possession of wildlife without a permit” at the time the fox was seized.
“It is illegal to be in possession of wildlife without a permit,” Latti said. “We do this to protect the health and safety of Maine residents and visitors, and Maine’s fish and wildlife.”
The fox, which Brann calls Timber Bear, made his way into the public eye earlier in February when he escaped his enclosure at Brann’s residence on Friday, Feb. 2, remaining at large in the Waldoboro and Nobleboro area for nine days.
The Lincoln County News reported details of Timber Bear’s escape and recovery by Brann in a front page story in the Feb. 15 edition. (“Rare Fox’s Nine-Day Escapade Enthralls Waldoboro and Beyond”)
In a phone call on Saturday, Feb. 17, Brann acknowledged that she did not have the necessary permit to legally possess a fox.
Brann told The Lincoln County News on Monday, Feb. 12 that she possessed the necessary permits to own the fox legally. IF&W officials did not respond to a request to verify that claim before Feb. 16.
“I know I sound like a liar already, because I said I had my permit,” Brann said. “My ex (Arnold Konecny) had a permit, but it expired.”
Brann said she believed it was unfair the fox was seized. “They made me feel dehumanized a bit, like I was a criminal,” she said.
She added that she is “working on” getting her own permit and believes she will eventually reclaim the fox.
Since being confiscated from Brann’s residence, the fox is “in a secure place and is being well taken care of,” Latti said.
The amount of details that can be made public at this time are limited, as the case is “active,” Latti said.
