That’s just not gonna fly.
A New Jersey man who decapitated a seagull that dared to steal a French fry from his daughter has been indicted on animal cruelty charges by a grand jury.
Franklin Ziegler and his daughter were on Surfside Pier at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks in North Wildwood during Independence Day week 2024 when the pesky seagull swiped some of the child’s snack.
After taking revenge, Ziegler, 30, then carried the dead seabird around the amusement park before asking the staff if they could provide him with a trash bag.
Onlookers who spotted Ziegler’s gruesome souvenir called the cops.
Ziegler, of Cape May, allegedly became hostile with police and was charged with animal cruelty and resisting arrest.
“During the investigation, Zeigler was irate and uncooperative with officers on an unrelated investigation, which resulted in his arrest for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest, both Disorderly Persons offenses,” the North Wildwood Police Department said in a Facebook post.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 makes it illegal to “pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, or sell” seagulls and other migratory birds.
Barry Fast, who has run Seagull Control Systems in New Rochelle for more than 20 years, says the seabirds can be fearless if they associate people with food.
“We deal with seagulls eating people’s food all the time at outdoor dining restaurants,” Fast said.
“Seagulls even attack restaurant workers bringing trash bags to dumpsters.”
According to Fast, Seagull Control Systems receives two or three legitimate calls for help with seagull trouble a day. He says controlling seagull activity on boardwalks is a difficult job.
“The solutions that we have must mitigate seagull infestation without disrupting people on the boardwalk,” Fast said. “Seagulls are flocking birds; they tend to colonize locations where they have a constant food source.”
Zeigler pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Cape May Wednesday.
Ziegler’s attorney, John Tumelty, could not be reached for comment.
