MOBILE — The court hearing over Dauphin Island's controversial fox management plan revealed a deep divide between wildlife advocates and conservation authorities.

Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Michael Youngpeter signaled last week he intends to dismiss the case brought by two residents opposing the animals' removal. 

The hearing, held Oct. 30, centered on a lawsuit filed by wildlife photographer Spencer Harrison and resident Duane Wood, who challenged the town's plan to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to trap and remove red foxes from the island's West End Conservation Area. Town officials and conservation experts say the effort is needed to protect endangered shorebirds and sea turtle nests, while opponents argue it is inhumane and ecologically unnecessary.

Town attorney Robert Nash Campbell said Judge Youngpeter's "verbal ruling saying that there is no subject matter jurisdiction from the plaintiffs" effectively dismisses the case. Campbell explained that the dispute centers on a federally guided conservation plan tied to land purchased with Deepwater Horizon restoration funds, meaning the town's actions fall under a broader federal mandate.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued the plan is cruel and misguided, urging town officials to consider nonlethal alternatives to protect nesting sites. Harrison, a well-known wildlife photographer who has spent years documenting Dauphin Island's red foxes — including one he named Roxy — testified about his personal connection to the animals and the role they play in the island's ecosystem. He said the foxes are part of the island's natural identity and a draw for both residents and visitors.

After the hearing, attorney Mary Beth Mantiply, who represents the plaintiffs, said the issue ultimately remains in local hands.

"The buck stops with Jeff Collier and the city council members," she said. "All they have to do is decide they don't want all these animals killed, and APHIS can't do it."

Until the judge's written ruling is issued, a temporary restraining order remains in effect, preventing any fox trapping or removal.

During the proceedings, experts from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and USDA APHIS Wildlife Services defended the management plan as a science-based, targeted approach intended to protect endangered species that nest along the western end of the island. They emphasized that the project is not an eradication campaign, but a limited removal of foxes that have learned to prey on bird and turtle nests.

Photographic and scientific evidence presented in court showed fox tracks around nesting sites and documented instances of nest predation. Experts testified that even a few foxes can devastate nesting colonies by destroying entire sea turtle or shorebird nests. Biologist Dr. Amy Hunter, who helped develop the management plan, explained that the strategy was shaped by years of research and public consultation under federal restoration guidelines established after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The testimony highlighted the complexity of balancing conservation and compassion in wildlife management. Experts described red foxes as non-native predators that thrive in human-altered landscapes and can pose a threat to vulnerable native species. They also discussed the broader ecological effects of predator control, including disease risks such as rabies and the potential disruptions caused by removing apex predators.

Harrison and other residents view the foxes as an integral part of the island's ecosystem and identity. His photographs of Roxy and other foxes have circulated widely online, drawing attention from wildlife enthusiasts and helping shape the foxes into unofficial symbols of Dauphin Island. Mantiply argued that the town should prioritize coexistence strategies, such as improved nest protection or deterrents, instead of lethal trapping.

Until the ruling is issued, the temporary restraining order remains in effect, pausing any fox removal operations. The outcome could influence how local governments across the Gulf Coast work with federal agencies on wildlife management projects tied to environmental restoration funds.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.