Franklin Zeigler, a 29-year-old man from New Jersey, allegedly ripped the head off the seagull with his bare hands because it stole his daughter's French fries.
Photoholgic/UnsplashSeagulls are a federally-protected species despite often being considered a nuisance.
A New Jersey man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly decapitated a seagull with his bare hands. Police say he killed the bird because it was pestering his daughter for French fries.
The case is currently under investigation by the North Wildwood Police Department.
The Arrest Of Franklin Zeigler
On July 6, 2024, police responded to a report of animal cruelty at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey. According to court documents, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Franklin Zeigler of Cape May. He allegedly killed the seagull when it attempted to take his daughter’s fries.
Shortly after, Zeigler reportedly asked staff from Morey’s Piers for a trash bag while still holding the dead, headless seagull in his hands. Police say that Zeigler was also “irate and uncooperative” with officers and was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Google MapsMorey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey, where the incident took place.
Later, on July 18, Zeigler was charged with third-degree animal cruelty once officers had obtained witness statements and photographs, the North Wildwood Police Department stated in a Facebook post.
Zeigler was issued a summons and released, police said, with a court date scheduled for Aug. 9, 2024.
Seagulls Are Federally Protected In The U.S.
Although seagulls are notorious for stealing food from humans, they are also federally protected, and in many cases, businesses warn that they will not replace food taken by seagulls. Other — though not quite as gruesome — incidents in the past have sparked similar response from authorities.
Back in January 2024, a video of a man grabbing a seagull by the neck and threatening to break it if the bird didn’t stay away from him went viral on TikTok. The incident, according to The New Zealand Herald, prompted a complaint from the Department of Conservation (DOC) relating to animal cruelty.
TikTokA still from the TikTok video of a man threatening a seagull in New Zealand.
“It is stressful for the animal whenever someone catches and holds our native birds like this,” said DOC Otago operations manager Annie Wallace at the time.
In the United States, seagulls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA). This act was established to protect migratory bird species shared between the U.S. and other countries like Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia.
Under the MBTA, it is illegal to harm, kill, capture, trade, sell, or transport seagulls, including their nests or eggs, without proper authorization.
The MBTA aims to ensure the sustainability of migratory bird populations by prohibiting activities that could negatively impact them. This protection is crucial for seagulls, as their coastal nesting habitats can be vulnerable to human activities and environmental changes.
After reading about the man who allegedly decapitated a seagull, see our list of nine terrifying birds that will make you thankful for your spot on the food chain. Then, meet the great-eared nightjar, the dragon-like bird straight out of a fantasy film.
