Pennsylvania Girl Mistaken for Skunk, Shot by Neighbor

This story is out near Pittsburgh, but too ridiculous to not post.

We were driving up to the Lehigh Valley Zoo through the Trexler Game Preserve this past weekend and one of our friends made the comment that they’d love to go running there, but would probably get shot because it’s during hunting season.

I remember whenever we’d go running in the woods in high school they said to make sure to wear orange because if you wore a white shirt you would get mistaken for a deer’s butt, or whatever, and shot.

Now, I understand how this could be the case, however, how crappy are hunters if they are shooting people who are running through the woods just because they see some white… are they really that far away that they can’t tell and just blindly shoot and moving white things?

In any event, hunting season is probably the worst time to have an animal themed Halloween party in the woods.

Or dress like a skunk.

FREEDOM, Pa. -  Police say a costumed 9-year-old girl was accidentally shot outside a Beaver County  home during a Halloween party by a relative who thought she was a skunk.

New Sewickley Township police say the girl was over a hillside and wearing a black costume and a black hat with a white tassel. Chief Ronald Leindecker told the Beaver County Times that a male relative mistook her for a skunk and fired a shotgun, hitting her in the shoulder, arm, back and neck Saturday night.

Leindecker told the newspaper that the girl was alert and talking when she was flown to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, about 30 miles away.

Leindecker says the man hadn’t been drinking and he doesn’t know whether charges will be filed. New Sewickley police say that decision will be made in a few days. SOURCE: WFMZ.com

Well, let’s hope the kid recovers… and… let’s hope this guy uses a bit more hesitation when shooting his shotgun at things.