Some residents wary of new camel neighbor

<p>Residents in Ridgefield have taken notice after a camel moved into town earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

May 25, 2018, 7:19 PM

Updated 2,160 days ago

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Residents in Ridgefield have taken notice after a camel moved into town earlier this month.
The  3-year-old, 8-foot, 1,800-pound camel named Sheik, traveled from Florida with his owners Robb and Stephanie Heering. The couple rescued Sheik from a petting zoo when he was just 2 months old.
While many have embraced their new hoofed neighbor, others are not as happy.
Some neighbors told News 12 they are concerned about their property values being impacted, increased traffic on the road and possible health issues.
Despite complaints made to the town, First Selectman Rudy Marconi says Sheik has the right to stay. He says the couple is in compliance with zoning regulations, to his knowledge.
"I can understand due to the market what possible negative impact it would have on their homes, but overall I think in due time it will settle down, the novelty will wear off and we'll be fine,” Marconi says.
Because of Sheik's popularity, the owners have set up visiting hours every Saturday between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
More information on Sheik can be found on the Facebook page, "One Hump Farm."


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