Dozens of dead pelicans confound NC beach town

Posted: Dec 16, 2010 3:28 PM EST
Updated: Dec 16, 2010 7:59 PM EST


NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (WECT/AP) - Officials in a North Carolina beach town are trying to find out who is killing dozens of pelicans that have washed ashore shot, bludgeoned and decapitated.

Since the beginning of November, volunteers, wildlife officers and town workers in North Topsail Beach have documented more than 60 pelican deaths that were apparently caused by human beings.

Wednesday, volunteers found a bird with its head chopped off, the fourth such decapitation since the weekend.

Toni O'Neal is the director of Possumwood Acres, a small, quaint wildlife sanctuary located just outside of Jacksonville. She cares for several types of animals, but is upset she has seen a surge of pelicans.

"That's the part that breaks my heart," said O'Neil. "When we have to take a beautiful, healthy bird and put it to sleep because someone has come up and bashed it with a stick."

Others have apparently been bludgeoned with some blunt instrument, shattering bones. At least one bird bore wounds from shotgun pellets.

"There's no need for this cruelty," O'Neil pleaded. "It's unwarranted. If I could do something to you that you are doing to my birds, I would want to do that."

O'Neil believes a group of commercial fishermen are killing the pelicans because they are interfering with their nets.

Pelicans are protected by federal and state laws, according to Onslow County Wildlife Officer Scott Strickland, who is one of several officials investigating.

Possumwood Acres and PETA are offering a reward of $3,600 to anyone with information on who may be responsible for these acts. If you have any information please contact Possumwood Acres at 910-326-6432.


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