Bodies of 3 decapitated birds discovered in Laguna Beach

The bodies of at least three headless birds were discovered Sunday in Laguna Beach, raising questions as to how and why the animals were killed and whether the incident could be part of a larger pattern in south Orange County.

Laguna Beach resident Carisa Carlton was walking along a stretch of Main Beach near the Heisler Park Beach staircase Sunday afternoon when she came upon a dead bird in the sand.

“I didn’t think too much of it, but then I noticed another one,” she said Monday. “My friend said, ‘Hey, its head has been cut off.’ Then, I kept going and noticed another bird.”

A headless bird, in addition to a decapitated pigeon and duck, was discovered Sunday in Laguna Beach.

(Courtesy of Carisa Carlton)

The animals appeared to be a pigeon, a duck and a bird resembling a chicken or other type of fowl. Carlton said they were situated about 6 to 10 feet from one another in the sand. At least one of the severed heads was discovered not far from its body.

Carlton contemplated to whom she might report the incident, as the birds seemed domestic and did not initially appear to be wildlife.

Debbie McGuire, executive director of Huntington Beach’s Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, said although her organization was not contacted directly about Sunday’s finding, she has heard of domestic animals being beheaded throughout the county’s coastal area.

“I don’t think it’s wild birds — I think it’s pet birds and also cats and dogs and roosters,” McGuire said Monday. “A warden told me about all the weird stuff that’s been going on. They’re not sure if it’s some sort of ritualistic or religious thing.”

A decapitated duck was one of three dead birds discovered Sunday in Laguna Beach.

(Courtesy of Carisa Carlton)

Local animal wardens contacted did not respond for a request for comment. Patrick Foy, a captain for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Law Enforcement Division, said his office had no information about any investigation into decapitations in the area, adding that domestic animals are outside the department’s purview.

“Assuming it was a duck or chicken, any police officer could investigate that,” Foy said Monday. “It would not be the jurisdiction of our department if it solely involved domestic animals.”

When asked whether Sunday’s incident had been reported to the Laguna Beach Police Department or to local animal control services, spokesman Sgt. Cornelius Ashton referred all questions to city spokeswoman Cassie Walder.

Walder said beach patrol officers found two dead birds on Main Beach Sunday but by the time Animal Services employees arrived only one duck could be located. The incident is currently being investigated, but officials were not aware of any other similar events having been reported.

Carlton, who made the grim discovery at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, said the bodies still seemed fresh when she chanced upon them. Tourists to the beach gathered around, puzzled by the scene.

“Everybody was bewildered by the situation,” she said. “It was a very vulgar display — it was just ominous.”

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