An injured California gull is now recovering at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley after someone spotted the bird struggling in a tree and fall to the ground in San Jose's Camden neighborhood.
It turns out, wildlife advocates believe, this was no accident: The bird's legs were embedded in foam caulking and wrapped in packing tape.
“The gull was found in the knick of time," said said Ashley Kinney, the Center’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor. "It was in poor condition, emaciated and dehydrated from its ordeal."
She said that amazingly, the gull showed no signs of any fractured bones from thrashing in the tree, and she expects the gull to make a full recovery soon be released.
California gulls are a native species and federally protected under the Federal Migratory Treaty Bird Act. Harming any native bird can result in federal fines and possibly a conviction.
The center is hoping to set up a reward fund for any leads to this cruelty case and to provide medical treatment to this bird and other animal cruelty cases they see. Donations can be made via the website.
For more information contact the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley at 408-929-WILD, email info@929-9453, or visit www.wcsv.org.
Photo Credit: Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley