7 More Water Birds Are Shot to Death at Costa Mesa Park

Seven TeWinkle Memorial Park resident water birds were found shot to death with a pellet gun and another injured Tuesday morning, the second incident of killings in the park in one week.

Park officials found the bodies of six ducks and one black crown night heron at the Arlington Avenue park and contacted police about 7 a.m. Though police increased their patrol checks in the area the previous evening, it is believed that the shootings occurred either overnight or early Tuesday morning, said Robert Bork, Costa Mesa’s animal control supervisor.

Though Bork said it is common to have animals harmed in large parks like TeWinkle, he has never witnessed abuse like this.

“Some people get scared off when the geese chase them, and they defend themselves by throwing a stick,” Bork said. “But nothing like this. There’s obviously somebody doing this maliciously.”

Last Sunday, four ducks and one popular goose named Honey Bunny were found dead at the park, and two geese--Leo and Juliette--were taken to a local animal hospital for pellet wound surgery.

The most recent shootings brought the total to 12 water fowl killed and three other birds injured.

Unlike other wild animals, park creatures become used to human contact and lack a natural fear of humans.

“They’re docile animals,” Bork said. “They get fed by people there and they’re not like your regular wildlife.”

Each count of cruelty to animals is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $20,000 fine, or both. Because the night heron is listed as a native protected species, killing one is a misdemeanor crime, with fines up to $1,000. The mallards that were shot are also protected under state fish and game laws, and the shooter can be fined up to $10,000.

But catching the culprit will be tough since there are no witnesses, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith said.

Police will increase patrols in the area and “vigorously enforce the ordinance” that keeps people out of the park at night, Smith said.

On Tuesday morning, two men at the park standing alongside the pond, who watched animal control officials carry the ducks away in plastic bags, said they’ll be keeping an eye out for any suspicious behavior.

“We’ll be watching,” park regular Larry Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Leo and Juliette, two popular TeWinkle resident geese injured over the weekend from pellet shots, were recovering at All Creatures Care Cottage animal hospital in Costa Mesa.

Leo had received surgery Monday afternoon to remove 16 out of 22 pellets from his neck and abdomen, and was doing well, said Greg Hickman, hospital administrator. Juliette had two pellets removed Tuesday morning.

Both will be healthy enough to return to the park, but the hospital officials won’t release the animals until they are sure the park is secure.

“If it were just the injuries we were worried about, they’d be back in a week,” Hickman said.

The hospital has a reputation for treating injured wild animals, and Hickman said he expects more victims of the TeWinkle shooting spree to be admitted.

“I have no doubt that it’s going to be ongoing for a day or two,” he said. But Hickman also said that if anyone tries to shoot the birds again, they could be caught.

“If the same person doing this goes out there again, then they have got to have a screw loose,” he said. “All eyes in that city are going to be on that park.”

Anyone with information regarding the shootings should call Costa Mesa Police Det. Linda Matthews at (714) 754-5039 .