I don't think they were thinking. Most adolescents have some kind of black hole of rational behavior. This looks like one of those times to me.

What did the graffiti say? Is there a racial element that's not being reported?

that the perpetrators were Gibbs students? What if a roving band of kids from a nearby school wanted to embarrass Gibbs on the occasion of its 100th graduation? It sure worked! -- s.

killing small animals, along with setting fires and of course ahem bedwetting.
Wouldn't surprise me if we have a potential Ted Bundy in the making.
Of course the person or people who did this should be investigated to see if they have done other things of a criminal nature or are planning to.

It sounds like roadkill and a senior prank. The time, effort, and cost numbers just don't add up for anything else.

That being said, if it is a cry for help and attention, it's one of a high degree, for to catch two opossums, three raccoons and a turtle in a box for a public display like this is no small feat.

I've never seen a roadkill raccoon.

Your testimony notwithstanding, I cannot recall seeing a roadkill raccoon. And, being from the NE Knox neck of the woods (five of my siblings are Gibbs alums), I've not seen live raccoons up there, either. Deer, coyote, turkey, possum and snakes galore. Raccoons? No. Not saying there are none, just saying I find it unlikely that there was such a bountiful harvest of roadkill available. Country boys, otoh, LOVE shooting critters of all kinds. I'd check for buletholes...

I don't share your amusement.

You may rest assured that TWRA will involve themselves and the culprits will not be treated as pranksters. Scraping up roadkill and poaching are two entirely different issues.

There is a Coon Hunting Club down off Clear Springs Road by the Holston River. Coon hunting is not only big sport, it is a means of support for several (via the sales of dogs and equipment) in the area. I'm not a participant, but I serviced their businesses. I think the company was called Night Lites and he had the best hand made Amish dog collars in town. The Amish would only do business by mail, not computer or telephone so it was a unique experience being involved in the transaction. It was pretty cool. I have no use for poachers, but I'm fine with legitimate hunters.

I'm ambivalent about roadkill.

Here at the Gap in Karns we have several Raccoons and I've seen a few killed on the road. I spooked a mother in the back yard one night and she was busily pushing her four youngsters higher into the magnolia tree and to safety.

Heck, I even found one in my dining room several years ago. The Rotties had killed it and brought in through the dog door as a gift. I put it into a garbage bag and into the basement freezer overnight. I can do that here as we don't have a pesky spouse on the premises.

Next day I took it and the dogs to the vet just to be safe because Gino had a spot of blood on his nose from the fracas. Dr. Bledsoe told me, by the way, that rabies is fairly rare in raccoons in East Tennessee. From that day on she teased me about my coon dogs.