Great Blue Heron euthanized after being shot with pellet gun in Langley

A Great Blue Heron had to be euthanized on Friday, after it was shot by a pellet gun in Langley.

The injured bird, which was brought to the Wildlife Rescue centre in Burnaby, suffered a broken right femur, a result of what X-rays showed to be three pellets fired at the bird.

The injury meant the bird was no longer able to stand or defend itself, and as a result the decision was made by veterinary technicians to euthanize it.

Adding to the callousness of the act is the fact that Great Blue Herons are protected under the BC Wildlife Act and by the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Their nest trees are also protected year round on both public and private land. This all means the shooting was not only fatal, but illegal as well.

In a statement, a Wildlife Rescue spokesperson said the organization “condemns the actions of the shooter and has reported the incident.”

The agency also noted that The Great Blue Heron is “a unique bird which has seen its numbers decrease through the years primarily due to human activity.”

(Wounds can clearly be seen on the bird where it was shot) Wildlife Rescue Association of BC

A pellet can be seen inside the bird in this x-ray photo. (Wildlife Rescue Association of BC)

A pellet can be seen inside the bird in this x-ray photo. (Wildlife Rescue Association of BC)