Animals found beheaded after 'ritual cleansing' in DeBary

[EC]

Doesn't rate as Ridiculous News, but too weird not to share.

DeBARY, Fla. - Deputies found the corpses of chickens, pigeons, a goat and a turtle that were beheaded during a ritual cleansing meant to cure a man of his schizophrenic thoughts, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

A woman called 911 Wednesday afternoon to report that she found a recycling bin full of dead animals while she was riding her bike on Toms Road.

"I didn't get real close to it, but I know there was a goat, and a chicken, and they were all missing their heads, which I thought was kind of strange," the caller said.

Deputies said there were five chickens, two pigeons, one goat and one turtle beheaded in the bin. The turtle was not a protected species, according to the report.

More: www.clickorlando.com/news/animals-found-beheaded-after-ritual-cleansing-in-debary

[TomSea]

This is similar to another story a few years ago, these animals left by the roadside and it sounds like the Caribbean practice of "Santeria".  Perhaps calling it basic voodoo is good enough.

[RoosGirl]

I find it funny that the story specifically mentions that the turtle was not a species on the protected list.

[bigheadfred]

I find it funny that the story specifically mentions that the turtle was not a species on the protected list.

No harm, no foul?

[RoosGirl]

No harm, no foul?

Hah, something like that.  I was secretly wishing it was a gopher tortoise.  Those things are a pox...  literally, they dig burrows in the ground.  The larger ones are big enough to get a big zero turn mower stuck in.  Want to ask me how I know this?

[bigheadfred]

Hah, something like that.  I was secretly wishing it was a gopher tortoise.  Those things are a pox...  literally, they dig burrows in the ground.  The larger ones are big enough to get a big zero turn mower stuck in.  Want to ask me how I know this?

Well, it seems like it should be something you could see coming. 

[RoosGirl]

Well, it seems like it should be something you could see coming. 

You would think!  If we kept the entire property mowed all the time you could.  But our back 3 acres we only mow every now and then, so especially in the summer when we have a lot of rain the grasses will grow up tall enough around the holes and you can't see them.

[bigheadfred]

You would think!  If we kept the entire property mowed all the time you could.  But our back 3 acres we only mow every now and then, so especially in the summer when we have a lot of rain the grasses will grow up tall enough around the holes and you can't see them.

That makes sense now. I have to admit this is the first time I have heard of someone getting their mower stuck in a tortoise burrow. It seems outlandish. 
Makes me LOL.

[RoosGirl]

From Wikipedia:  Gopher tortoises, like other tortoises of the genus Gopherus, are known for their digging ability. Gopher tortoises spend most of their time in long burrows, up to 14.5 metres (48 ft) in length and 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep.

[bigheadfred]

From Wikipedia:  Gopher tortoises, like other tortoises of the genus Gopherus, are known for their digging ability. Gopher tortoises spend most of their time in long burrows, up to 14.5 metres (48 ft) in length and 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep.

Big enough to use as safe houses for the Underground Railroad. The only thing we have around here are badgers. Their holes aren't big enough to lose a mower in, but they are a mostly a danger to livestock. They sometimes break a leg, stepping in them.

[RoosGirl]

Big enough to use as safe houses for the Underground Railroad. The only thing we have around here are badgers. Their holes aren't big enough to lose a mower in, but they are a mostly a danger to livestock. They sometimes break a leg, stepping in them.

Yes, that's really what I worry about with my dogs; breaking a leg in one.  They also for some reason WANT TO GET THEM!  Which means they'll stick their head in and dig as fast as they can.  Really scared they're going to find a rattlesnake in one some day.

[ABX]

They didn't say if it helped his schizophrenia.

[bigheadfred]

They didn't say if it helped his schizophrenia.

I think it probably helped theirs. Under the category, "We're All Crazy Now".