Westbrook police are looking for a driver who may have intentionally plowed into a flock of ducks at Riverbank Park on Thursday, killing nine of them.

Lt. Mike Nugent said Friday that the ducks, which huddle on the road in the park, apparently were killed deliberately by someone who drove through the flock about 11:30 a.m.

Nugent said the ducks, mainly mallards and black ducks, were discovered by a passer-by, who called police.

The incident was reported on the police department’s Facebook page Thursday afternoon, sparking dozens of comments by outraged residents.

Nugent said the ducks may have been hit accidentally, but it appears the killings were intentional.

“The ducks will move for vehicles,” he said.

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The waterfowl are treated like personal pets by Westbrook residents, some of whom come to the park to feed them stale bread and potato chips.

David Sparks, a former animal control officer for Westbrook who now operates the Sparks Ark animal rescue service, said such incidents are rare.

“It is hard to catch the person,” Sparks said.

Nugent said it is against the law to intentionally kill a bird with a motor vehicle. The offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by as much as six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to call the department at 854-0644 or its anonymous crime-tip hot line at 591-8117.

Nugent said the police had not received any leads as of Friday afternoon.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com

 


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