Two young Pennsylvania snowmobilers have admitted to brutally chasing and running over a red fox multiple times over a frozen lake.
A 17-year-old and a 20-year-old, whose names have not been released, came forward and confessed to harassing the animal in Lebanon County on January 20.
One of the suspects was driving a black snowmobile with yellow skis, black pants, a black and gray jacket and a silver metallic helmet.
The other suspect was riding a a black and white snowmobile, wearing fluorescent orange pants, a black jacket and a black helmet.
Footage shows both of them speeding after the helpless animal and hitting it with their vehicle as it continued to try to run away from the duo.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the depraved act went on for about 30 minutes.
‘The state game warden’s investigation suggested the fox was being chased through the field for more than 30 minutes by two individuals operating snowmobiles.
‘The suspects ran over the fox multiple times with their snowmobiles during the horrific incident,’ officials said in an initial statement.
A 17-year-old and a 20-year-old, whose names have not been released, came forward and confessed to harassing the animal near the intersection of SR 501 and Locust Street in Heidelberg Township, Lebanon County on January 20
After both young adults turned themselves in, the Pennsylvania Game Commission released another statement thanking people for generating awareness around the situation.
‘Thanks to awareness through social media shares, comments, and overall public outcry, the suspects involved with the incident felt enough pressure turned themselves into authorities.
‘Charges will be filed and restitution added to those charges. THANK YOU for being a conservation hero and helping to protect Pennsylvania’s wildlife and resources by reporting incidents like this,’ the Facebook post read.
It remains unclear when and what the duo will be charged with.
Animal welfare officials are yet to reveal if the fox survived the attack and whether it suffered any injuries.
This comes nearly a year after animal welfare groups have decided to take matters into their own hands by offering a $20,000 reward for information that will lead to the conviction of the Wyoming hunter who paraded a wolf around a bar.
Footage shows both of them speedily driving after the helpless animal and hitting it with their vehicle as it continued to try to run away from the duo
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the depraved act went on for about 30 minutes
The Center for a Humane Economy has offered a $15,000 reward and the Wolves of the Rockies put up $5,000 in an attempt to get Cody Roberts, 42, charged on a federal level in April 2024.
Roberts paraded the young wolf, who has been named ‘Theia’, around Green River Bar in rural Wyoming after he allegedly plowed the animal down with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, and brought it to the bar before he killed it.
The hunter was fined $250 for his actions but he wasn’t convicted because under Wyoming law it is legal to kill wolves in what is called the ‘predator zone,’ where an endless amount of wolves can be hunted and killed.
Governor Mark Gordon and the agency’s Director Brian Nesvik also publicly condemned the torture of the animal.
‘Cruelty to any wildlife is absolutely unacceptable. This is not the way anyone should treat any animal,’ Gordon said, while Nesvik called the capture and torture of the wild animal ‘disgusting.’
