San Diego County Department of Animal Services officials are seeking Friday whoever set an illegal trap in Tecolote Canyon Park, injuring a raccoon so badly it had to be euthanized.
Land surveyors spotted the trapped raccoon with a broken leg off a path at the Clairemont-area park on Wednesday. County authorities said the raccoon had likely been stuck in the trap, which was well hidden and chained to a tree root, for several days before being found.
The raccoon was later euthanized due to the severity of his injuries, according to the county.
A similar trap was found in Mira Mesa last year, but a raccoon caught at that time survived and was eventually released.
County officials said that whoever placed the device in the park could face charges for the illegal body-gripping trap and for animal cruelty.
Anyone with information on the case was asked to call Animal Services at (619) 767-2675.
—City News Service