$1,000 reward offered after opossum found severely burned in Salinas

The SPCA for Monterey County is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect(s) who severely burned an opossum in Salinas.

An injured female opossum was found wrapped in a t-shirt at Sherwood Park near Tatum’s Garden on March 6.

“The opossum had burn marks all over her body that appeared to be intentional,” said the SPCA for Monterey County.

The opossum’s wounds were so severe, it had to be euthanized.

“Sadly, the opossum had given birth to six babies,” the SPCA said.

Three of the babies were found dead, one died on the way to the SPCA Wildlife Center, and two had to be euthanized because they were too young to survive without their mother.

If caught, the suspect(s) could be charged with: animal cruelty, mutilating and torturing an animal. Both charges are felonies and carry a punishment of more than a year in prison and a fine up to $20,000.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call The SPCA’s Humane Investigations department at 831-264-5402.