The residents of a Pasadena neighborhood are furious after a mail carrier allegedly beat a beloved local peacock with a rock after it followed him to his mail truck.
Gina Davis, a schoolteacher who lives in the neighborhood and has affection for the peacock, named Sugar, said she noticed the bird seemed disoriented and was refusing to eat or drink.
“Pretty much the entire neighborhood knows him, takes care of him,” she told the LA Times.
She told the paper she looked at her home security footage and discovered that a mail carrier had thrown a rock at the white-feathered bird and then struck the animal.
The video made its way around the neighborhood, shocking and infuriating the locals.
Davis said after the mail carrier threw the rock at the bird it followed him back to his truck, at which point he hit it with a stick he had in his truck.
“The peacock was just standing in front of his truck,” Davis said. “He got out of his truck and had a club or stick or something and hit it.”
After discovering what happened, Davis' neighbor called Pasadena Humane and a veterinarian came to check on the bird. The peacock has since been taken to the group's Wildlife Center.
A spokesperson for the group told the LA Times that the bird was examined and beyond minor swelling where it was struck the animal does not appear to have suffered any broken bones.
Pasadena Humane said the peacock is expected to recover but will remain under observation for a few more days. The group is investigating the attack and is asking neighbors to provide any video footage they have of the incident.
Kristina Uppal, a U.S. Postal Service spokesperson, told the LA Times in a written statement that postal workers have had previous encounters with peacocks and that the organization is working with Pasadena Humane concerning the birds.
The statement also said that the USPS takes "allegations of inappropriate conduct seriously and will take appropriate action, as warranted, consistent with Postal Service policies."
The Independent has requested comment from the USPS.
Davis said she does not know if Sugar will be returned to their neighborhood, but told the paper she would be happy knowing the bird has a safe place to live.
Peacocks have become an increasingly common sight in cities and towns across California.
While the birds are beautiful, there have been numerous reports of neighborhoods struggling with their sometimes aggressive behavior. On top of large populations of the birds leaving waste in yards, public sidewalks, and city streets, they've also been known to scratch the paint on cars and damage homes.
