Bloody opossum found near Hilton Head golf course. The internet has convicted golfers
An injured opossum found beside a Hilton Head Island road has fueled outrage and calls for justice from internet lovers, generated thousands of dollars for the agency caring for it, and even caught the attention of CNN.
It started with a Facebook post Thursday by The Wildlife Rehab of Greenville, which is affiliated with the local rehabilitators. The post featured images of a bloodied animal that its volunteers on Hilton Head responded to earlier that day.
“Some golfers beat her with their clubs,” the post said. “She has a broken jaw and is now blind. If she can recover, she will be an ambassador for opossums everywhere.”
The opossum, named Scarlett for the scars she’ll likely have from the incident, looked terrible. The post said the rehab center had contacted the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to investigate the potential cruelty.
The post caught fire on social media, though details remained vague and evidence supporting the claims remained lacking.
Several regional outlets reported on the original Facebook post, as did national network CNN.
But how the opossum was injured remains unclear, according to SCDNR spokesperson David Lucas. So much so that Lucas even refused to identify the golf course closest to where the opossum was found.
“There’s been a lot of ire directed at people as a result of the original post put up by the director (of the wildlife rehab center),” he said. “So we don’t feel like there’s any need to fuel that by talking about the location.”
What happened?
Wendy Watson, president of the Greenville rehab center, said Monday the rehabilitators were called to the scene by a woman who found the animal. The caller did not identify herself in any way to Watson.
In the Facebook post, Watson wrote that the animal was beaten with their clubs and was left badly injured on the course. The post fueled angry and sorrowful commentary. Some wished or threatened violence on the perpetrators and begged the center to identify the golf course.
Watson said she did not know if the caller saw an attack happen, and acknowledged that there is no photo or video evidence of an attack. She said the Facebook post has led to near-constant calls to the center and a flurry of outline outrage.
She said the animal’s injuries appear consistent with blunt force trauma.
“When it’s hit by the car, there’s road rash. If it was attacked by another animal, there are puncture wounds,” Watson said. “The gash under her throat looks like it was made by a golf club head.”
Lucas said his agency is investigating the incident, but said Monday “we have not been able to verify that (the animal was hit with golf clubs) and there are no witnesses.”
He added that the caller, whom SCDNR has interviewed, found the opossum on the side of the road adjacent to a golf course, not on the grounds of a course.
“The person who found the possum did not witness anything like that,” Lucas said of an attack by golfers.
Meanwhile, the Wildlife Rehab Center of Greenville, an organization run by volunteers, has received over $10,000 in donations to support Scarlett’s recovery. The center posted Friday about small crocheted stuffed animals it was selling to raise money for the opossum.
Watson said that money will go toward Scarlett’s recovery and then be added to the center’s general fund, where it will buy medications, animal baby formula, medical supplies and feeding tools.
If you have relevant information about this incident please contact SCDNR’s Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-922-5431 .
