Officials Probe 21 Dead Canines Found on Washington State Island

Officials from the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the discovery of 21 dead canines on the shoreline of Guemes Island in Washington state. The animals were found between March 26 and the following Friday, with initial reports indicating six carcasses at Kelly’s Point and additional ones discovered in the days after.

Guemes Island, located about 80 miles north of Seattle, is a small community accessible by ferry from Fidalgo Island and has around 600 residents affected by this unusual event.

The first six dead canines were spotted at Kelly’s Point, followed by five more in the subsequent days, one found floating near the coast on Tuesday, and nine others over the next four days. Olivia Cole, the Guemes Island fire chief, described the situation to NBC News as resembling the start of a horror movie, reflecting local unease.

Authorities noted that the canines seemed to be of the same size, and two had orange twine wrapped around their necks, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

Skagit County investigators have performed necropsies on the bodies, but the deteriorated state of the remains has made it difficult to confirm whether the animals are dogs, coyotes, foxes, or another species. Cole told NBC News that the creatures appeared to have been skinned, but local reports from KIRO 7 indicated that officials are still determining if this is accurate or due to decomposition.

This uncertainty has led to various speculations among residents, as highlighted by Ellen Fitch, who found some of the carcasses and described it as unlike anything she had seen.

Fitch mentioned to KIRO that locals are making assumptions about the origins, including possible links to nearby tankers or breeders on other islands. The Guardian reported that some residents speculated about exotic animals or even unrelated theories like witchcraft, though these remain unverified.