Sea Gull Euthanized After Person Allegedly Threw Explosive at It in New London: Police

A baby gull had to be euthanized after the City of New London Animal Control Department said someone threw an explosive, such as a firecracker, at the bird.

The bird was found in New London Friday morning. It was taken to a local veterinarian where it was euthanized due to the severity of the injury.

Animal control officers responded to the parking lot of the Fisher's Island Ferry after someone called to report an injured sea gull.

And what animal control found was shocking, they said. The bird had catastrophic injuries.

The veterinarian who saw the gull ended his suffering, according to animal control, and agreed that a person threw some sort of explosive, likely a firecracker, at the bird, and it exploded in his mouth.

Animal control said there were fireworks Thursday night, but the injury wasn't consistent with the gull getting hit by an errant firework because the damage came from inside his mouth.

Police are helping animal control officers with the investigation and are conducting a canvass of the area for potential video footage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 860-447-1481. You can leave anonymous tips by texting NLPDTIP plus the information to Tip411.

WARNING: You can see New London Animal Control's Facebook post but be warned that they shared a photo of the injured gull in the comments.