Gwinnett County's Yellow River Game Ranch -- home of Gen. Beauregard Lee, the South's favorite weather-predicting groundhog -- is in trouble again.
But this time, its leader is speaking out.
After a recent inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the ranch was cited for seven violations, with inspectors noting "an excess of flies" hovering over rusty rabbit cages, gaps in several animal enclosures and food storage facilities in "disrepair." That April 5 inspection, the report from which was only recently published online, was less than three months after another evaluation that found similar issues -- including "very thin" sheep, poor veterinary care and dirty animal pens.
In a Tuesday afternoon phone call with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Yellow River Game Ranch manager Cody Reeves called the most recent inspection "frustrating," and said his staff is "working to make the necessary repairs and improvements." But he also called out People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which he believes is unfairly targeting the ranch, a go-to attraction for Gwinnett families for decades.
"Absolutely it's frustrating," Reeves said. "People try to make you look like a villain when all you're trying to do is take care of animals."
Reeves also suggested PETA alerted media to the most recent inspection, which is true -- The AJC verified the inspection results after receiving a press release from the animal rights organization.
"Decrepit cages and tumbledown buildings are on display at Yellow River Game Ranch right alongside the animals who have been denied veterinary care and everything that's natural and important to them," the release said, attributing the statement to PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet. "This kind of disrepair and neglect is exactly why PETA urges families to stay away from any roadside zoo that exhibits animals for profit."
PETA released a similiarly worded statement following the January inspection.
Reeves did not dispute the findings of the most recent inspection, which included a "rusted and not operational" water dish and grimy feeding tube in the ranch's bear exhibit. But he repeatedly took issue with PETA, saying they have the ranch in their crosshairs because "some people don't think you should keep animals at all."
"We're not here trying to harm animals," Reeves said. "We're just trying to give them a safe place to live. So it's frustrating. But we're doing the most we can."
A follow-up inspection, which generally takes place within 45 days of the original evaluation, has not yet been performed, Reeves said.
The Yellow River Game Ranch is located on U.S. 78 near Lilburn.
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