Western Gull Released Back Into Wild After Being Shot In Wing

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Humane Society released a Western Gull back into the wild Monday, about a month after the bird was found with a wounded wing in North County.

A humane law enforcement officer picked up the bird Jan. 21 on the beach in Oceanside and brought it to the organization's Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center.

X-rays showed a fractured right ulna — one of the wing bones — and a BB-pellet at the fracture location, according to the San Diego Humane Society. Wildlife veterinarians surgically removed the BB pellet.

The bird was in a wing wrap for 24 days while receiving regular physical therapy.

"The goal was to build a strong enough callous at the fracture site for the wrap to be left off," the San Diego Humane Society said in a news release. "The gull then graduated to an outdoor flight cage, where he spent eight days conditioning and gaining strength, eventually showing the veterinary team that he was able to fly adequately for release."

The bird was released on the beach in Oceanside, south of Strand Beach, almost exactly where he was found. The gull hopped onto a wildlife veterinarian's head, knocking off his GoPro camera — leaving the San Diego Humane Society with nothing but a shot of the sand.

"Our veterinarian assures us, though, it was great to see the bird back in the wild with all of his friends," the San Diego Humane Society said.