Wildlife Rescue Reports Animals Are Being Shot by Pellet Guns

Source: Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network

The Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network has seen a disturbing trend of animals that have been shot by pellet guns throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The impact of these pellets often proves deadly. Here are some recent cases with accompanying x-rays taken at the Wildlife Care Center:

Patient: Western screech owl patient #3871
Date Admitted: 9/16/2020
Injury: fractured humerus, tibiotarsus, femur, damaged tissue as a result of pellet impact
Location found: Las Canoas Rd in Santa Barbara

Patient: great blue heron patient #4024
Date Admitted: 10/2/2020
Injury: Broken left wrist and radial fracture caused by pellet impact
Location Found: Victoria Ave in Oxnard

Patient: band-tailed pigeon patient #4105
Date Admitted: 10/1/2020
Injury: Broken left femur and carpometacarpal fracture caused by pellet impact
Location found: Mountain Dr in Santa Barbara

Patient: American crow patient #4021
Date Admitted: 10/2/2020
Injury: Injured leg caused by pellet impact
Location found: Port Hueneme

Patient: Western gull patient #4019
Date Admitted: 10/1/2020
Injury: multiple pellet wounds
Location found: 3320 Peninsula in Oxnard

These are not all of the pellet cases the Wildlife Care Network has seen –– only a sample of the most recent cases. These cases are from all over Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Dr. Avery Berkowitz, wildlife veterinarian and Director of Animal Care at the SB Wildlife Care Network, says, ” Unfortunately, with gunshot cases, the speed and force of the bullet can cause extensive damage to the soft tissues as well as breaking bones. As we need the soft tissues around fractures to be viable in order to support fracture healing, this can create substantial challenges in many gunshot cases.”

The Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network requests the community keep their eyes and ears open for individuals committing acts of cruelty towards wildlife. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Cooper’s hawks, western screech owls, and hundreds of other bird species are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 

If you witness cruelty to wildlife, please call County Animal Control at 805-681-5285 or City Animal Control at 805-963-1513. The police may also be notified.

To help the victims, consider donating to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network: https://www.sbwcn.org/donate.

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Written by SBWCN

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3 Comments

  1. Advocating violence as part of retribution or revenge does nothing but perpetuate the cycle of violence, Roger. I suggest you read the work of advocates of non-violence, such as Mahatma Gandhi, for better advice on how to handle violent situations.

  2. Roger feels the way he does due to “life experience”..
    As well he should..the entire..ENTIRE..
    legacy of America’s foundation is based in violence.
    What has this country done to those who speak against such behaviour?..rip.

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