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Harrison County board approves fox trapping after camera evidence of seabird predation
Summary
Ottabon Delta representatives told supervisors that foxes documented on game cameras devastated several tern/turn colonies; the board authorized hiring a contractor to trap and remove foxes at two county sites.
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors voted to allow contracted trapping of foxes at two coastal seabird colonies after hearing that game-camera evidence shows predators have caused significant nest losses.
Dr. Adam Darham and Jessica Martin, representing Ottabon Delta, told the board they had camera documentation of fox predation at prime nesting colonies in Long Beach and nearby sites. Darham said one colony that contained about 25 nests earlier in the season was later found with zero active nests, and that foxes had begun to appear at larger colonies, including one near a Walmart with roughly 350 nests.
Board members asked whether the animals would be captured and released; staff said the approach would be live capture and relocation similar to last year. The Ottabon Delta representatives requested permission to hire Wildlife Solutions to conduct trapping and removal at two specific locations, across Markhamm Avenue and near Ming Avenue. "We are requesting permission to hire Wildlife Solutions to conduct fox trapping removal efforts at these two locations," the presenters told the board.
Supervisors moved, seconded and approved the request without recorded opposition. The board did not specify an exact relocation site or a timeline beyond moving forward with the contractor's plan; the motion authorized county permission for the contractor to operate at the identified sites.
Board members noted the unusual timing and possible links to drought-related animal movements. No public comment opposing the trapping was entered on the record during the discussion. The matter did not include details on long-term monitoring or follow-up reporting; county staff and Ottabon Delta indicated they would continue to document nest outcomes and reported predation with game-camera evidence.
The board's approval authorizes immediate contracting steps; the county did not set a public timeline for trapping operations or require the contractor to file a post-action report during the meeting.
