Nearly a Dozen Seagulls, Pelicans Found Dead on Neptune Beach: FWC

Wildlife officials are investigating after about a dozen birds were found dead near shell casings on Neptune Beach.

Florida Fish and Wildlife spokesman Brad Stanley says the agency received a call about the dead seagulls and pelicans on Saturday.

He tells the Florida Times-Union it's possible that the birds were shot by shrimpers who were annoyed by the birds or by duck hunters who didn't have any ducks to shoot.

Cindy Mosling of the Bird Emergency Air & Kare Sanctuary says a pelican and two sea gulls are recovering from gunshot wounds. She says you can see the imprint of shotgun pellets on the pelican's left wing.

It's illegal to shoot pelicans or sea gulls under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Stanley says his agency is investigating.