Florida: Ibis bird, cruelly painted with spray paint, captured by wildlife officials

FLORIDA --  An Ibis that was painted orange was captured in Boca Raton.

WPBF 25 viewer Ryan Hoffman took a picture and sent it to us. Hoffman says he saw it outside his workplace and it appears to have been spray painted.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission have since confirmed that it is paint.

An FWC officer arrived to the scene to try and capture the bird, but was unsuccessful.

WPBF 25 viewer David Hager took more photos of the bird, which he named Julius. Hager met with FWC officials after he found a feather near the area that Julius was residing. FWC was able to confirm that the bird had been painted on from the feather.

Following a two-day hunt, FWC officials were able to capture the Ibis.

Post from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission:

First turtles, now birds!

Please keep your paint on the canvas and off of wildlife. White ibis are protected in Florida. Not only is it illegal to paint them, but it is cruel to paint any wildlife.

If you have information about this case or if you see people illegally painting wildlife, please contact our Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
FWC photos by Officer Amy Moore and Carol Lyn Parrish: The bird has been successfully captured and taken to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary for rehabilitation.

Per the FWC, "The white Ibis is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State Species of Special Concern by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule."

(WPBF - Aug 12, 2016)