Raccoon deaths and vandalism investigated

Canadian police in Fredericton, New Brunswick, are investigating a series of residential vandalism attacks that included two dead raccoons.

The vandalism started early Wednesday morning when a homeowner noticed a flickering light in his home's back yard, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

When he went to investigate, he found his barbecue lit to maximum with the top closed. Inside, he found the body of a dead raccoon being roasted.

The city's major crimes unit became involved Thursday after the family found the body of a mangled raccoon arranged and splayed out on the hood of their car in the driveway. The car was also spray painted with "disturbing words and symbols," the CBC said.

The homeowner said he was told by police not to identify himself or release any of the photographs he took of the incidents and to avoid talking to the media.

Police issued a public appeal for tips or leads to the anonymous Crimestoppers telephone tip line, the report said.