Raccoon Caught in Trap

Summary:

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Wild animals in Virginia Beach are being harmed, and in some cases their injuries are fatal. Animal Control says they are now investigating animal cruelty cases after illegal traps were set across the city.

The most recent incident happened on February 5 on Cheswick Lane. Virginia Beach Animal Control and Virginia Beach Fire Department Ladder Truck 7 found a raccoon dangling from a tree branch. His leg was confined to a trap, and the trap links were caught on a limb.

Lisa Barlow, President of Tidewater Rehabilitation and Environmental Education, said when they reached the animal in the tree, he was only about 10 lbs, when a raccoon of his size and age typically weighs around 20 lbs. She estimates he was suffering for about a week.

Result:

Due to the condition in which the raccoon was found, Animal Control is investigating the case as animal cruelty, which is prosecuted as a Class 1 misdemeanor. "Traps are required to be staked down. The problem was that the raccoon was able to get away with the trap on its leg, where this is cruel," Animal Control Supervisor Rebecca Franklin says.