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Mayor Bloomberg is Scared of Staten Island Chuck!


By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 2, 2009

Modified Feb 2, 2009


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By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 2, 2009

Modified Feb 2, 2009


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Image above is a Photoshop illustration; Staten Island Chuck only needed to rely on his teeth for combat

At 7:30 a.m. this morning, Mayor Bloomberg was at the Staten Island Zoo, awaiting the appearance of Staten Island Chuck, the borough's Groundhog Eminence Grise. However, when the mayor tried to coax Chuck out of his little Groundhog Day house, the Staten Island Advance reports, "Chuck snapped at the mayor's hand, grabbed the tasty treat and ran back in. As Bloomberg reached for him, the groundhog tried hiding in the corner before eventually being lifted out."

A spokesman confirmed that Bloomberg was "nicked," but his shots were up-to-date so no tetanus worries. But the Mayor referred to Chuck during a later press conference, suggesting the groundhog might be a "terrorist rodent" and was perhaps trained by Al Qaeda. Politicker NY has that video, but below is video of Mayor Bloomberg trying to handle Chuck.

Mayor bit by groundhog

This much is clear: Chuck is a force of nature. After the jump, the extended video of Bloomberg and Chuck.

Groundhog Day

Tagged

mayor bloomberg

staten island chuck

terrorist rodent


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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