Fox Traps Spark Outrage in Mount Pleasant Community
In the charming Hobcaw neighborhood of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, residents are rallying together in a bid to protect their beloved local wildlife. Unfortunately, their community is facing a troubling issue: someone has been setting up inhumane foothold traps targeting the charming, furry foxes that roam the area. In just a short period, more than half a dozen foxes have sustained injuries due to these cruel traps, leaving the community concerned for both the animals’ welfare and the safety of their own children and pets.
Community Comes Together for Foxes
Angela Geraci, who runs a nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating wild animals, stepped forward after receiving distressing calls from worried neighbors. “I got a call about neighbors seeing a fox that was limping, and they thought they saw a bloody wound on its paw,” Geraci revealed. “Sadly, the prognosis was dire; she needed a full leg amputation.”
Thanks to the generous efforts of the residents, they were able to raise an impressive $3,500 to cover the surgery for the injured fox. However, the grim news didn’t stop there—five more foxes have since been spotted with similar ailments. “We have a total of three that we know about,” said Meghan Webster, a local advocate for the foxes. “The third one we have has the same injury.”
Eyewitness accounts have noted that there are between five and six foxes in the neighborhood currently suffering from injuries attributable to these traps. “When you see the x-rays of the damage that this causes, it’s really disturbing,” lamented Webster. “The bones are crushed and cannot be put back together.”
Nostalgia and Concern for Local Wildlife
Local resident John Rowe shared his fond memories of the foxes. “I remember seeing those foxes growing up in this neighborhood. It’s been a cool part of my mornings, walking the dogs and occasionally spotting the foxes and their pups,” Rowe said, stirring feelings of nostalgia and sadness for the dire situation.
While there are regulations surrounding the use of traps, residents learned that it is not illegal for homeowners to use them with the proper permits. Geraci pointed out, “A homeowner can use those types of traps. The illegal part is once you trap that animal; you cannot then release it, especially if it’s injured.”
Adding to the concern, local officials admit their hands may be tied due to state law. “Traps are indiscriminate. Not only is it sad that these are foxes, but what if it was people’s domestic animals like cats and dogs?” questioned Will Haynie, a town official. “It is high time for South Carolina to revisit these trapping laws and bring them into the 21st century.”
Safety Concerns for Children and Pets
This situation isn’t solely about foxes; it impacts local families as well. Meghan Webster raised a worrying point: “My kids love to play hide and seek or tag at night. They’re running through yards, having a great time. What if someone accidentally steps on one of these traps? There’s going to be a massive issue.”
Despite the overwhelming concern, residents emphasize that they do not want to punish the person behind the traps; they just want them to stop. In a show of solidarity, the community has now established a $1,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that helps identify the trapper. “The reward was our best guess on how we could find the individual or at least get the individual to stop and know that we are serious—that this cruelty should not continue,” Webster stated.
As the community strives to protect the foxes they cherish, many residents express that these foxes mean as much to their neighborhood as other cherished wildlife does around the region. “These foxes are as important to the neighbors in Hobcaw as the eagles are on Founder’s Way over in Midtown. It is just painful,” Haynie concluded.
Your Help is Needed!
If you have any information regarding the trapping incidents in the Hobcaw neighborhood, you’re encouraged to reach out and share what you know. Please call (843) 822-4481. Community members are hopeful that by working together, they can bring an end to this devastating issue and safeguard their beloved wildlife.
