Two ducks with severed bills were found alive July 31 and August 13, the second and third in a series of duck attacks that have occurred in Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley, California.

A duck was also found alive with a severed bill in June and died shortly after being found by a parkgoer. The two ducks discovered more recently were taken to Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, where they had to be euthanized because of the injuries. Two turtles have also been found beheaded in the same park.

Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center Executive Director Debbie McGuire said the two ducks found alive in July and August were suffering from starvation, as ducks cannot eat without their bills. The injuries on all three ducks were nearly identical, and both the upper and lower beaks were severed.

Ducks aren't the only wildlife being targeted at Mile Square Regional Park. After posting about the ducks on Facebook on Thursday, McGuire said she received a direct message from a Facebook user who had found two turtles beheaded at the park.

McGuire added that the ducks' injuries were probably "incredibly painful."

"It's more like an amputation," she told Newsweek. "It actually exposes their airways, so if they tried to eat, they might even aspirate by getting fluids into their respiratory system. It's a horrific injury. The beak doesn't grow back."

Duck beaks are made of keratin and have blood supply and bone toward the back. If the injury occurred on a domestic duck, a prosthetic bill could be made. But that wasn't an option since Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center has to release all animals back into the wild after they've recovered. A duck with a prosthetic bill couldn't be released back into the wild.

McGuire said her first thought was maybe a snapping turtle was preying on the ducks, but the injuries were too clean to be caused by a snapping turtle.

"Usually when I have a snapping turtle, there are other injuries to the duck because they want to eat them," McGuire said. "So when the second [duck] came in, it was too much of a coincidence."

McGuire took photos of the ducks and sent them to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where a veterinarian confirmed her suspicions: It was likely an intentional act by a human. McGuire filed a report about the ducks and submitted it to several law enforcement entities including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Orange County Animal Care Services. She said they were all concerned and increased patrols at the park.

"They were very disturbed. They have been acting," McGuire said of the law enforcement response.

Of the two most recent ducks found, McGuire said one appeared to be a young male going through a molt. When a duck is molting, it loses the ability to fly for several weeks and is more vulnerable to attacks.

One Orange County resident is so horrified and heartbroken over the attacks that he has offered to pay a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information leading to a suspect's arrest.

If someone sees animal abuse in progress, they are encouraged to call 911. Those with details on the incidents should call Orange County Animal Care Services at 714-935-6848. Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center accepts donations at wwccoc.org.

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