Woman Concerned After Finding Several Ducks With Zip Ties Around Necks, Beaks In SW OKC

A metro woman is concerned after finding multiple ducks in southwest Oklahoma City with zip ties around their necks and beak. She thinks it's a case of animal abuse.

Merilee Sams told News 9 she was at a pond near SW 104th and Pennsylvania when she found the zip ties on their necks and even their beaks.

"It's disgusting," said Sams. "It is so sad, because the poor little thing can't even move its head."

In some photos Sams captured on Monday, a group of ducks have zip ties around them. One of them can't even shut its mouth because of it.

Sams said she works in the area and is at this pond often. When she found the ducks in this condition, it was heartbreaking.

"No animal deserves to suffer," said Sams. "I don't care what it is. I don't care if it's a duck, I don't care if it's a turtle, nothing deserves to suffer."

The Oklahoma Wildlife Department of Conservation said they don't hear about cases like this often. However, there can be consequences for those responsible.

"There's no reason for a zip tie to be around the neck of an animal," said Micah Holmes, with the Oklahoma Wildlife Department of Conservation. "That's an individual who is abusing an animal. That's certainly not something that is legal or right to do."

Members with WildCare Oklahoma were at the pond Tuesday trying to catch the ducks to get the zip ties off. However, they were unsuccessful.

They plan to get more volunteers and some different equipment and return in the next day or two.

Holmes said they encourage people to call when they see things like this.

"We certainly don't want to see wildlife suffer," said Holmes. "Something no one wants to see, so in a situation like this it's really unfortunate."

As of now, it's still uncertain who put the zip ties on these animals.