Shore Animal Control recently responded to a distressing call at the Jersey Shore. A seagull was reportedly injured by a child throwing a baseball at it in front of the iconic ICONA hotel in Avalon. The Upper Township-based company shared this unfortunate incident on their Facebook page, revealing that the bird had suffered a broken wing.
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The Facebook post also mentioned that authorities are actively seeking witnesses to provide more information about the incident. Additionally, Shore Animal Control posted a screenshot of a text message implicating a boy who allegedly enticed the seagull with food and then deliberately aimed a baseball at its wing, causing harm.
Avalon police have stated that they will only investigate further if a credible witness steps forward. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Shore Animal Control at 1-800-351-1822 or Avalon police at 609-967-3411.
Several species of seagulls are native to New Jersey. While they are not classified as endangered in the state, they are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, making it unlawful to harm them. Despite these protections, there have been disturbing incidents of violence against these majestic birds in recent years.
In a separate incident in July, a man from Cape May allegedly killed a seagull in North Wildwood by decapitating it, resulting in charges of animal cruelty. Similarly, a Philadelphia firefighter faced legal consequences after reportedly causing harm to a seagull in Sea Isle City back in 2017. These distressing events underscore the importance of respecting wildlife and upholding laws that safeguard our feathered friends.