Beverly 'Suspicious' Raccoon Deaths At Dane Street Beach

BEVERLY, MA — Multiple dead raccoons were found on Dane Street Beach in recent days, leading Beverly police to ask dog walkers and nearby residents to be on the lookout amid the "suspicious" rash of dead animals.

Police said in recent days its Animal Control Division found dead raccoons, which may have been poisoned or illegally trapped, on the northern end of the beach near where the stream feeds into the ocean.

"At this time we are considering this behavior to be suspicious and the level of foul play is currently unknown," police said. "Due to the condition that these animals have been found in, it is suspected that this may be a result of illegal killing of animals."

The Massachusetts Environmental Police Department is assisting Beverly police in the investigation and could prosecute those responsible for violating State Hunting and Trapping Laws.

"There is no known threat to citizens at this time, however citizens and dog walkers are asked to avoid contact with any carcasses due to the unknown cause of death of these animals," police said.

Anyone who comes across a dead animal in the area is asked to leave them where they are and promptly report them to the Animal Control Division at 978-605-2361 or Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075.