Bird euthanized after being lured and hit with shovel

WINK News first told you Monday that Marco Island Police were looking for a man who hit a seagull with a shovel. Now, that seagull has died.

The wildlife experts who helped care for it say the bird suffered for hours. Joanna Fitzgerald is the director of Von Arx Wildlife Hospital. “The bird was in a significant amount of pain the entire time,” said Fitzgerald.

She describes what happened just before the attacks as disturbing. “This sounds like the man drew them in and purposely tried to harm them first with a hat. Then, with a shovel to do more damage,” Fitzgerald said.

This attack happened on Friday on South Beach on Marco Island. The bird was then rushed to a wildlife hospital. “Both wings were badly broken, and the bird was having trouble breathing from internal injuries. There was blood on [its] head,” said Fitzgerald.

They determined once the bird arrived that there was no way to save it. They were forced to euthanize the animal. This is not a decision they take lightly. Joanna says she’s sad. “Sadness because [the] animal had to go through what it went through. Always that regret for intentional like this one,” Fitzgerald said.

Now, the animal hospital hopes more people can learn about the wildlife that lives around us. “Hopefully, people can gain understanding and compassion,” said Fitzgerald.

If you know who the man who did this is, Marco Island Police are asking you to come forward.