Man May Have Attacked, Killed Seagull With Beach Umbrella On Ocean City Beach: Police

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City police are asking for the public’s help in a possible animal cruelty incident involving a seagull on the beach that took place Monday afternoon. At about 12:10 p.m., Ocean City police were told by a witness that a seagull was being attacked by a person on the beach, the Ocean City Police Department said Tuesday morning.

However, when officers arrived on the scene, the person accused of attacking the seagull had a different version of accounts. After learning that the seagull was dead and had been removed from the beach by on-duty lifeguards, officers found the man accused of attacking the animal.

He told police the bird was acting aggressively toward young children, and that he had struck the bird with an umbrella in an effort to protect the kids. The seagull subsequently died from the injuries. The officers at this time took no further action and left the area, police said.

Shortly thereafter, another witness contacted the police department with conflicting information. This person said no children were being threatened, and that the man who attacked the seagull did so maliciously, police said. The officers then returned to the scene, but the man had already left the beach.

A photo of the man in question, provided by the Ocean City Police Department, is attached to this post.
This incident is still under investigation and the New Jersey State Department of Fish and Wildlife has been notified.

Anyone with information about the incident or who may be able to assist in identifying the person responsible for the injuries to the seagull is asked contact the Ocean City Police Department at 609-399-9111.