Baby opossum beaten until blinded on Hilton Head golf course
A baby opossum was found beaten until she was blinded at a Hilton Head golf course in South Carolina, according to the Wildlife Rehab of Greenville.
The opossum, now named Scarlett, was found on Tuesday with a broken jaw, one eye protruding, the other eye injured and a large gash on her throat, Wendy Watson, the president of the Wildlife Rehab of Greenville, told CNN.
“The injuries are indicative of being struck with a golf club,” Watson alleges.
The opossum, who is less than a year old, weighs two pounds and still has her baby teeth. A volunteer with the Wildlife Rehab nonprofit, which rehabilitates then releases injured wildlife, is providing Scarlett with medical care in Hilton Head.
“No one has been caught for doing this,” Watson said. “We reported it to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and they investigated. Without pictures or video, they cannot move forward.”
While there were witnesses to Scarlett’s assault, no one has agreed to talk, according to Watson.
David Lucas, a spokesperson for SCDNR, told CNN affiliate WJCL that anyone with information regarding the attack is encouraged to reach out to the SCDNR.
“Our agency is aware of this incident and has looked into it,” Lucas said in a statement to WJCL. “As best we can determine right now, the speculation that the animal may have been hit/injured with a golf club is unverified — we have not been able to locate or speak with anyone claiming to have witnessed this, or having direct knowledge of the incident at this time.”
According to the Humane Society of the United States, Opossums may hiss but rarely do they do more than threaten with the sound. If the hissing doesn’t work to scare off predators, opossums play dead. The Humane Society says opossums rarely carry rabies and the nocturnal animals are not typically aggressive.
So far, more than $8,000 has been donated to aid Scarlett in her recovery. The money will go to Scarlett’s medical care and leftover funds will be directed to future wildlife patients, according to Watson.
The baby opossum is currently recovering from her injuries, only eating liquid foods and receiving medication for pain and antibiotics. Despite the attack, the opossum has been friendly to those caring for her.
“Often we see that animals understand that we are trying to help them and this is true with Scarlett,” Watson told CNN. “She has been handling our interaction with her very well.”
Scarlett will remain in rehabilitation until her recovery. But Watson said if her injuries prevent her from released back into the wild, she will remain with the volunteer in Hilton Head.
