CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (WESH) - Florida wildlife officials say they are investigating after dozens of birds were crushed to death after being run over in Brevard County.
According to rescuers, they found only one bird that survived the ordeal, with close to 50 birds basically being crushed by a truck driver.
"That's extremely cruel. You don't have to love wildlife. You don't have to love animals not to be a cruel person," Heather Pepe, with Wild Florida Rescue, said.
Rescuers said the birds were killed last Friday when someone in a truck, apparently on purpose, ran over a group of shore birds, such as seagulls and other kinds, that were flocked together on the ground.
"How that person hit them, though, and even in the road, I don't know. They would have stepped on the gas and purposely did it," Pepe said.
According to Pepe, they found birds with broken wings, birds that were crushed, with some of them being killed on impact.
"We've got some really sweet dispatchers. I've never really heard them that angry," she said.
Rescuers said the birds were resting, possibly drinking water from a puddle in the parking lot before being run over.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that it is assisting in the investigation. The team says between the witnesses at the cargo dock, evidence collected and surveillance video, they have a strong lead on a possible person of interest.
Evidence will be submitted to the Brevard County State Attorney's Office for review before any charges are filed, officials said.