...and then there's context.

Shocking video shows deputy shooting, killing groundhog blocking traffic https://t.co/0Xn5wvYK1G pic.twitter.com/JqhwJn3Ody

— KCCI News (@KCCINews) May 8, 2018

Video of the incident posted on

Facebook shows traffic stopped in both directions on Liberty Road in Eldersburg. The sheriff's office said the deputy tried to guide the groundhog off the road. The groundhog then went toward the deputy, who shot the animal.

Several residents had concerns about the killing of the groundhog and the way the situation was handled by the sheriff's deputy. Plenty of people were outraged online.

The sheriff's office said in a statement, "He realized that it was not responding as expected for an animal that was not being cornered or trapped. Believing the groundhog to be either sick or injured, the deputy then put the animal down for the public’s safety."