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DRAPER — Residents in Draper are being reminded that animal traps are illegal after city officials said an off-leash dog was "severely injured" by a fox caught in a steel-jaw animal trap at a park Thursday.
Animal services officers initially responded to a call at Jordan River Rotary Park, 725 W. 12300 South. They stumbled across a fox caught in the trap and another untriggered trap nearby. Draper Police Lt. Dustin Willie said a woman was walking her dogs who were off-leash when one of the dogs came across the fox.
"The fox attacked the dogs as they approached and pretty severely injured one of the dogs," he said.
He added the woman took the dog to a veterinarian after the incident and he is unaware of the dog's condition. The fox was euthanized before the two traps were removed.
Animal traps aren't considered an ongoing problem but are found from time to time, Willie said. He noted that he can't recall an incident quite like what happened Thursday, but that it highlights why traps are illegal.
First, pets or children could easily walk into a trap that can cause serious injury. Second, a wild animal could be trapped and easily attack a child or pet, as was the case on Thursday.
"You never know what's going to fall into the trap," Willie said. "It could be a wild animal, it could be a pet, it could be a toddler or really anything. That's one problem with the steel traps."
Having a trap can result in a misdemeanor charge, according to city code. Anyone who has information about the case, or finds animal traps in Draper, is encouraged to call Draper police at 801-840-4000.
City officials added that dog owners should also observe leash laws, which are meant to protect pets.
