A mystery that puzzled residents of Guemes Island, Washington, has been solved after officials confirmed that 21 dead canines found washed ashore were foxes legally used as fishing bait.
The Skagit County Sheriff's Office announced on Friday that the animals were foxes lawfully purchased and transported to the state for use as bait in crabbing operations. The carcasses likely ended up in the water due to a mechanical issue that caused cargo to go overboard, authorities told local news station KOMO News.
The discovery in late March and early April along the shoreline of Guemes Island, home to about 600 residents and located 80 miles north of Seattle, had shaken locals. The state of the bodies—deteriorated, with some missing fur and paws—initially made it unclear what type of canines they were, necessitating necropsies.
“It’s a creepy mystery out here,” said Olivia Cole, the fire chief of Guemes Island. Ellen Fitch, who found some of the carcasses, recalled hearing rumours such as “they found wolves and foxes and coyotes” or “there were witches involved”.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the responsible party has been contacted and is cooperating with the investigation. “Given the facts and circumstances known, the sheriff’s office does not anticipate referring any charges to the prosecutor’s office,” the agency stated.
While crab bait commonly includes oily fish heads or chicken, crabs are scavengers, meaning any “stinky” carcass can serve as effective bait.
