A New Jersey man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly decapitated a seagull with his bare hands. Police say he killed the bird because it was pestering his daughter for French fries

The case is currently under investigation by the North Wildwood Police Department.

On July 6, 2024, police responded to a report of animal cruelty at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey. According to court documents, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Franklin Zeigler of Cape May. He allegedly killed the seagull when it attempted to take his daughter’s fries.

Shortly after, Zeigler reportedly asked staff from Morey’s Piers for a trash bag while still holding the dead, headless seagull in his hands. Police say that Zeigler was also “irate and uncooperative” with officers and was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Later, on July 18, Zeigler was charged with third-degree animal cruelty once officers had obtained witness statements and photographs, the North Wildwood Police Department stated in a Facebook post.

Zeigler was issued a summons and released, police said, with a court date scheduled for Aug. 9, 2024.

In the United States, seagulls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA). This act was established to protect migratory bird species shared between the U.S. and other countries like Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia.

Under the MBTA, it is illegal to harm, kill, capture, trade, sell, or transport seagulls, including their nests or eggs, without proper authorization.

The MBTA aims to ensure the sustainability of migratory bird populations by prohibiting activities that could negatively impact them. This protection is crucial for seagulls, as their coastal nesting habitats can be vulnerable to human activities and environmental changes.

Via AllThingsInteresting