More ducks targeted at Costa Mesa’s TeWinkle Park, police say

Less than two weeks after four ducks were found shot and killed at Costa Mesa’s TeWinkle Park, more injured birds have been discovered with similar injuries and taken to a local wildlife rescue center, law enforcement officials reported.

Costa Mesa Police Department spokeswoman Roxi Fyad said Monday an unspecified number of ducks and geese were found at the local park sometime over the weekend. They appeared to have sustained injuries similar those whose bodies were found at TeWinkle the morning of April 18 riddled with what police believe to be pellets fired from a gun.

An X-ray of a Muscovy duck reportedly killed at Costa Mesa’s TeWinkle Park shows the bird sustained four bullet wounds.

(Courtesy Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center)

The injured animals were taken to Huntington Beach’s Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, although their status and condition were not being made public as of Monday afternoon.

“We want to reassure people we are investigating,” she said.

Costa Mesa residents have expressed concern for the welfare of the local waterfowl — including the more well-known deceased ducks Darryl, Grace and Mr. Chipper — who have not only been the targets of unknown shooters but have also endured recent droppings of massive amounts of bread, tortillas and doughnuts and recent attacks by coyotes.

Sandra Cotten, a duck lover who visits TeWinkle at least once each day, said exactly one week before the shooting incident reported April 18, four or five waterfowl were killed by coyotes. When she went to the park Friday, an employee shared information on a more recent attack.

“[He] said they found three more injured ducks, and one dead mallard. I said, ‘So is this coyotes,’ and he said, ‘No, it was a gun,’” she said Monday. “It’s very depressing.”

Officials with the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center provided an update on Facebook Monday, indicating “all the injured ducks and geese that came to us on Friday have unfortunately passed away.” Another bird brought into the Huntington Beach facility on Saturday, described as an American Pekin duck, was still alive and being cared for by a waterfowl rehabilitator, the post reported.

Residents have taken to social media to ask local law enforcement to install cameras at the park to help identify suspects who might be committing crimes against the wildlife and to suggest increased patrols of TeWinkle Park.

“I just hope they catch somebody,” Cotten said.

Anyone with information relevant to CMPD’s investigation is asked to call Det. Jon Smith at (714) 754-5097.

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Muscovy ducks Grace and Mr. Chipper, alive on the evening of April 17, were found shot to death the next morning at Costa Mesa’s Tewinkle Park. Police said Monday more similarly injured fowl were discovered over the weekend.

(Courtesy of Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center)