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Pelican, ‘stomped on’ by fisherman, recovers
March 19th, 2010, 2:39 pm · 47 Comments · posted by Pat Brennan, science, environment editor
Register file photo of pelicans being cared for at Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center by H. Lorren Au Jr.
A California brown pelican whose beak was stomped on and crushed by a fisherman is recovering at a Huntington Beach care center, though the bird must heal further before being released.
The bird was injured Sunday when it swooped down on a fish on the Newport Beach pier that belonged to fisherman Daniel Moreno III, 19, of Perris, Calif.
Moreno was accused of stomping on the pelican’s beak and splitting it. He was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals, said Newport Beach police Sgt. Steve Burdette.
“The fracture goes the length of the bill,” said Debbie McGuire, wildlife director at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, where the bird is recovering. “It will take at least a month to heal.”
The bird is eating but not yet flying. The long recovery time is meant to ensure that the beak is strong enough to withstand the 60-foot, head-first plunge pelicans typically make to catch fish in the ocean.
Throngs of brown pelicans, which were recently removed from the endangered species list, turned up along the California coast weak and thin in recent months, a likely result of lack of prey due to shifts in ocean conditions because of El Niño.
Some of the birds appeared to become more bold in approaching humans for food.
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May this idiot be crapped on by birds every day for the rest of his life…….karma!
yes, people that doesnt respect animal will get their karma back and at the end some big guy will stomp into this guys face and break his nose, the same way he stomped into this innocent bird
This is just crazy and it is not even true if you people believe it’s your place to pass judgement without th
As well as wish evil on someone you do not know.
If you love animals and believe people should protect them and save them.
That’s Good Daniel does to he is one of the most kind hearted people in the world who you know nothing about.
I don’t understand how people act so evil and falsely accuse sany proof without searching to find some sort of truth
Very sad. This so called fisherman should know better than harm this poor bird. I know how annoying they can be, I’ve had to play tug-of-war with one once when I caught a fish then the bird tried to take it from me. I wasn’t about to beat the poor creature. I give my rod a little tug and I won, but I would have just as well let him have it, if it weren’t for the line and hook that I didn’t want him tangeling with. Fisherman should know that we need to respect the environment and that includes the wildlife in the areas that you fish. We are all one, respect the birds.
very well said, I coudnt bite my tongue and I talk crap about this kid because what he did made me furious and yes you are right, sharing a little food with these animals is part of the cicle of life, we are one and these dumb generation doesnt understand anything
I find it scary that people think nothing of attacking and hurting a bird or other animal. I hope that someone bigger than he is breaks his jaw while he’s in jail.
I hope that someone bigger than he is breaks his jaw while he’s in jail.
================
Me too
I sooooooooo agree with you:)
Someone should stomp on him… Seriously, attacking a pelican over a fish? That guy probably beats people too.
Yeah, that’s a truly sick thing to do. Psychopathic.
Ted Bundy started out with animals, too.
and what kind of junk fish could it have been? herring or mackerel.. shameful
I love watching the pelicans surf the updrafts of the waves in the ocean.
This guy is a pile. Stick to your double wide meth lab in Perris douche bag.
He needs to do at LEAST 6 months in jail, and then trash pick-up and bathroom cleaning in the parks!!!
Only in Cali can you be arrested for working over a bird. Defend your dinner, go to jail. How much is this going to cost us to defend the pelican in court?
Throw his a$$ with a Lion and say ” You want to stomp on animals ? have fun. ”
a guy from Perris did this? no way.
your family has done such a good job raising you and should be very proud.
Arrested on “suspicion” of cruelty to animals? Convict this a-hole!!
We always get some dumb A** 909′er doing stupid stuff here never fails !!!!!
I hope they keep the jerk in jail for a long time.
Idiot. Wish I would have witnessed that. Would have loved to return the stomping. Can’t believe how insensitive some people are to animals (or people). Glad he got caught.
What an idiot! I wish someone would teach him a lesson. Eye for an eye.
Taught that stupid bird a lesson.
Who the heck cares if he kicked a pelican!? It tried to steal his dinner! Next time you spend a day fishing and a stupid bird comes along and grabs your catch see how happy you are. Everyone just assumes he savagely beat it; he probably stepped on its beak to get the fish back.
the birds barly touch him! this stupid kid went furious!!! very gay behaviour, never attacked an animla that cant defend itself or you will end up in jail
Wasn’t “The Pelican Stomp” a dance move from the sixties?
This guy is worse than a bill collector…
Time to require fishing licenses on the pier. Violations of this sort are pretty commonplace on that pier.
He deserves to get it in the behind. So what if a pelican “stole” the man’s dinner. A Pelican doesn’t know right from wrong, but people do. If he is so protective of his catch, he should have brought a cooler and placed it in the cooler with the lid on tight.
No sympathy, the guy is a brute and has issues. Turn him into chum feed for the sharks.
Daniel II must be so proud. You know what they say about kids that harm animals…
Why are fishermen such A holes?
Avid fishermen here…please don’t paint with such broad brush.
Sadly, often, pier fishermen are normally all the general “non fishing public” see, and unfortunately, they are often less then a good example of a the “typical” recreational angler.
All though i don’t fish from piers, primarily on my own boat, 99% of recreational anglers that i know, or have met, or fished with are true conservationist, and care immensely about the ocean and its wildlife.
I personally would have stopped this bone head, as people like him only give people like you ammunition to take away my right to fish.
Tight lines.
These birds are protected under state and federal law. The federal law is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act – fine up to $15,000 and 6 months in jail. This guy should be made an example of for cruelty and the violation of these laws. Part of the fine should be to repay the cost to the Wet and Wildlands for the month-long care. I hope that wildlife center is active in this case and demands prosecution.
I agree with you Teach. I’ve read that they have had to take in so many pelicans lately because of the weather, that they have really been struggling financially. But I think he should be fined, and do community service. Maybe they should have him clean there and learn how to care for local wildlife. It might give him a new respect that he could pass on to the next generation. Putting him in jail just costs tax payers. Just a thought.
Best commonsense answer i have seen yet.
HE’S FROM PERRIS; THE ABSOLUTE ARMPIT OF CALIFORNIA. I WOULD EXPECT NOTHING LESS WAS THIS IDIOT.
u know what this guy is my rolemodel, he just did what all u people would have wanted to do but to scared to do, and maybe he was homless and the bird try to take his food i would fought for my food too. THEN AGIAN THIS GUY COULD JUST BE A REAL DEAL IDIOT
If you have to fight an animal for a piece of sandwich that shows me that you are a big fat ass for not sharing and and ignorant. Next time I see you with your dog and he sniffs me ill stomp into his face and say “Im sorry” it was an acident, he sniffed me … damn ass
I guesss was the same example that hes parents gave him, dont let him go without punish, that tells u how little he respects life. Today is an inocent animal tomorrow ???????
to all the real deal idiots from a idiots to idiots if a bird ate my fish it will be on like ching ching chong !!!!!!!!! that ant nothing compared to what people do to animals!!!!!!!!! from the last facts i seen noone seen him stomp on the bird
Well people too bad he didn’t go to jail he was not guilty.. Okay he proble didn’t mean to stomp on it… those people who saw it make it seem like worse then it was. It was a reflexe people have instinct… im guessing that was his first instinct.. Okay isn’t a bee a animal peopple kill them.. And that curalty so don’t give him stuff about that cuz I take his side over what people say he did
awww lets see if someone stomps into your dog or pet next time walking down the beach and say it was an accident, you obviously dont care because you are probably this “guys” friend or something because I dont believe a word of your statement. Kinda suspicious. That guy is guilty and has a lots of guts to say that he is not guilty. The law has the last word and in this county animal cruelty is not allowed. Hope he gets PUNISHED!!!
CRISTINA, everybody knows that there are always two sides to a story and obviously you are biased towards one, so before you start making accusations and wishing for someone’s wrongful punishment maybe you should hear his story. Perhaps the incident has been exaggerated by the media, which is infamously known for buffering stories to attract attention.
I hope somebody steps on this young man’s face the same way he stepped on this poor and innocent pelican. Somebody should teach this dumb kid a lesson and the law should punish him for what he did, this is the first sign of a cruel psychopath behaviour, next time he will do that to a human being. He will end up in jail sooner or later for his bad behavior. I dont feel safe living in OC with criminals like this. Hope the judge punish him. He deserves it.
Christina you seem like evil man
I don’t understand all you pre judgemental heartless people who don’t care to look find or see if there is Truth? Fact? Proof? Maybe evidence?if he has done such a curel thing. If anyone had a good heart or soul you would search for the truth. I know him and what happened that day and how he was told many time to say he did this. Before they took him to jail and took his 8 year old nephew he was fishing with to CPS or foster home. They treatend him untill he broke bown. Afraid for his nephew. His 8 year old nephew said he saw his uncle Daniel and watched tears fall from his face. Daniel he told police he did not do it countless times. Daniel tried to protect his 8 year old nephew and told the officer (“fine “if you say I did I did”). Daniel mother and family has raised and rescued animals of all kinds thair whole life.
How can so many of you judge and assume to know somthing is true without proof. What is this world coming to. So many of you quick to judge with hate. If people choose to fight don’t you think you should fight for what is right? If you choose to be rude and wish negative evil words upon someone, aswell as accuse. Shouldn’t you research to find the truth. Put yourself in his shoes. How would it feel if the tables were to turned and police blamed you?
How would you feel to know your being threatined and blamed for something you did not do? Know one has asked questions or searched for truth. Does anyone know Daniel? Or what kind of person he is?
Well I do, Daniel is a kind and gentle with a big heart who loves animals. His Mother has rescued all types of animals: dogs, cats, rats, a snake trapped in string that had been there so long it grew into it’s skins a parrot Daniel found in the back yard and we have had it for 3 years and still do 3 cockiteals so now we have 2 my 10 year old brother caught, One died due to trama from the cat that found it first, humming birds, ducks, goats hamsters rabbits, pigons, pigs, horses chickens some were pets but most all just rescues we have even helped petco being a temperary home for dogs waiting to find a new home. Daniel has been raised up with all sorts of animals all his life his mom did all of this with the help of of her children. without a charge or donation. Haven’t charged to rehome rescues or rehabillitate animals. Many of you may not have pets, while some may have a (dog)s , or cat even small animals to. But most of you won’t ever experience caring for all sorts of animals. God knows this is true. I’m not ashamed, just proud to say Daniel is my brother and would not ever do or stand to see someone else do somthing so cruel to anyone or any animal and this I promise is ture. Daniel is a person who would help any reptile, or animal, he would give his last doller or the shirt off his back to help if he had to, Without anyone asking him to. The day this all took place he was fishing with his 8 year old nephew.
God knows the truth. And someone that day had to have seen.
They did not even catch a fish or crab that day. The police accused him and told him to confess and he would not Daniel they did not even see a pelican near them that afternoon.
All I can do is pray and forgive all who has placed blame and wrongly accused, my brother Daniel of something he would not ever do. I will not judge those who post evil and negative statements without evidence or proof. It is sad to see all the cruel things you people say and and do, all I can do is
I pray for.
This is April 15, 2010, and this is my first time hearing about this story. As I have read all the comments from each individual I am really appauled. People have became so vendictive and prejudgemental. I truly believe that this has been blown out of proportion .
Who are we to say this person is guilty or not? Where you there, did you retrive any evidence? As we know, there have been many set ups by law enforcements in order to gain convictions when in reality their was nor clear evidence against an individual. I am not saying this is the case, however you need to weigh out everything.
My Bible tells me “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Calling this pearson all the horrible names and so forth shows there is a dislike in human kindness. Let’s stop making judgements without all the facts. I really pray that when all the fact are established he’d be declared innoncent and be left alone to live a normal life without so much hate.