A 17-year-old Iowa teenager has sadly passed away after he was mistaken for a squirrel while hunting outside of Iowa City, Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources released a statement on Carson Ryan’s passing, confirming that, “[Ryan] was mistaken for a squirrel by a member of his hunting party.”

The Department of Natural Resources is currently investigating the incident, and a GoFundMe started for Ryan has already raised $50,000, as of this morning. 

Beloved Iowa varsity football star tragically killed after being mistaken for squirrel during hunting trip https://t.co/RRJImRvPlKpic.twitter.com/JmKmj2yEj9

— New York Post (@nypost) September 30, 2025