The Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas team rescued several injured and orphaned birds on Friday after someone destroyed the animals’ nesting area in the Towne Lake subdivision of Cypress.
According to Houston SPCA, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department called the team about a report that several juvenile great blue herons and great egrets were injured or orphaned, some of them with mangled legs and broken wings. Some of the birds also suffered internal injuries.
In total, the team rescued 71 vulnerable chicks from the property.
The team found some of the live birds in a trash bag that also contained several dead birds.
Houston SPCA revealed that migratory birds, such as the egrets and herons, are protected by state laws. The birds, along with over 1000 other species, are also federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Killing, harming, or capturing birds protected under the MBTA is unlawful.
The 71 birds rescued are now under the care of expert wildlife staff and veterinarians with the Houston SPCA Wildlife Center of Texas. The staff and veterinarians are closely monitoring the birds and will release them back to the wild at the appropriate time.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the birds’ nesting area.
