It appears an injured great blue heron found Oct. 27 near the Ridgemark community was shot with pellets from an air rifle, and there is a $5,050 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Radiographs of the bird rescued from an area off Glenview Drive near the Ridgemark gated community revealed it was shot with an air rifle, according to a statement from Wildlife Emergency Services, a nonprofit based in Moss Landing.
The organization’s supporters have compiled the reward from supporters, while the bird remains at International Bird Rescue in Fairfield.
According to Wildlife Emergency Services: Herons frequent open fields where they prey on gophers, ground squirrels and snakes. They are also found near ponds and creeks where they prey on fish.
A resident called in the report of an injured heron. The Hollister Police Department transferred the case to Wildlife Emergency Services, according to the group.
The caller explained to wildlife authorities that the bird would try to run away from him rather than flying, a sign of weakness.
The wildlife responder described the experience of rescuing the bird from the man’s back yard in a blog linked from the press release.
“Finally it made a feeble attempt to stand and flee but was too weak. It turned to face the corner and that’s when I draped the sheet over its body to contain its wings,” wrote the rescuer, Deanna Barth.
People can report the matter confidentially through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife CalTip line at 1-888-334-2258 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (650) 876-9078.
