Vandals target Cecil the lion killer Walter Palmer's vacation home

FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A private security guard is protecting the home of the man who killed Africa's Cecil the lion after vandals spray painted his garage and left pigs feet and lion-shaped animal crackers on his driveway.

Walter Palmer hired the Fort Myers, Fla.-based Global Investigative Group to protect his $1.1 million vacation home in tony Marco Island. Earlier this week, a patrol officer drove by the house to see "Lion Killer!" spray painted on the white garage door. Police also found seven pickled pigs feet and a container of lion-shaped cookies. It is unclear if Palmer was at the home during the vandalism. Neighbors said they have not seen him recently.

"We knew the background information and about the potential problems that could occur at the home when something like this happens," said Marco Island Police Captain David Baer.

Palmer admitted to killing the beloved lion during a hunting trip in Zimbabwe, sparking a global outrage. Zimbabwe officials have called for Palmer, 55 and a dentist in Minnesota, to be extradited to face charges.

Police said the vandalism is being investigated as two separate incidents. The security team has taken measures to protect against future vandalism, said Walter Zalisko, owner of Global Investigative Group.

"People would be foolish to come by and do something with cameras and armed investigators on the property," he said. "We don't expect anything more to happen. People got it out of their system. It could have been kids and it could have been people who just like animals."