3 ducks found with their bills severed at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley
Three ducks had to be euthanized after they were found with their bills severed at a Fountain Valley park, and animal rescue officials are asking for help finding whoever was responsible.
Volunteer Jessica Vrab says she rushed to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach on June 14, after finding a beak-less mallard at mile square park in fountain valley.
Another duck was brought to the center on July 31 and another was brought in after being found in Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, according to executive director Debbie McGuire.
"Since July 31, two Mallards have been brought into the Westlands & Wildlife Care Center with the same dramatic and heart-wrenching injury," McGuire said in a statement. "Both ducks had their bills severed."
A third duck brought in on August 13 also had to be euthanized.
The ducks were alive, but starving because they could no longer eat. So the decision was made to euthanize the ducks because of the "severity of their wounds," she said.
Wildlife experts say these were deliberate attempts to torture the mallards by severing both the top and bottom beaks.
"It would be extremely painful, and it also made it so that these ducks starved to death. It didn't kill them, but they couldn't eat," McGuire said.
"This animal abuse can lead to serial killers so that's a very scary thing. So it's usually some sociopath out there that has no soul."
The center has hundreds of other ducks, scheduled to be released soon, but staff says with these incidents, they're rethinking where they'll do that.
"Some of these came in from fountain valley and should go back there but I don't really feel comfortable releasing them there right now," McGuire said.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Orange County Animal Control are investigating.
Anyone who sees a duck being attacked can call 911, but anyone with information about the duck abuse can call CalTip at 888-334-2258. If an injured bird is found, call animal care at (714) 935-6848.
