UPDATE:
CHARLOTTE, NC – North Carolina wildlife officials say they have persons of interest in connection to a video showing an opossum being set on fire.
Officials held a news conference in Huntersville on Friday. They would not name the people they are investigating, but did say they could face felony animal cruelty charges.
Video of the opossum being burned alive in Mecklenburg County was first shared on social media on April 24, 2025.
Wildlife Commission investigators have been in touch with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office about the case.
Officials also acknowledged a second video on social media showing what may be another opossum being burned.
The Wildlife Commission is encouraging anyone who may have information about these cases to report it anonymously.
You can do so by texting the key word Wildtip along with the information to Tip411.
Click here to learn more about reporting an anonymous tip.
ORIGINAL STORY (POSTED 4/30/25):
CHARLOTTE, NC – Animal Wellness Action is offering a $5,000 reward for information on the group involved in setting an opossum on fire and posting it to social media.
“Cruelty to animals is despicable in its own right, but we also know that people who do awful things to animals often turn their violent instincts against spouses, girlfriends, children, or other members of the community,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.
At least three people were involved in setting the opossum on fire. The video shows the individuals squirting lighter fluid at it and then setting it on fire.
It happened in Charlotte, and the video has since gone viral across social media.
“Without enforcement, our laws are just aspirations, and criminals ignore them and charge ahead with their cruelty and chaos,” Pacelle said. “Crimes of malice toward animals are predictors of violence toward humans, so we are making everybody safer in our communities by robustly enforcing these laws.”
NC Wildlife is investigating the incident. Officials say the individuals involved could face felony charges.
KEEP READING: Opossum Outrage: CMPD, Wildlife officials investigating after video shows animal set on fire
Tips go to animalcrueltytips@
