las vegas — A toucan that was seen flying around Las Vegas months ago has been rescued, a bird rescue group said Wednesday.
“We were all very concerned for him,” said Skye Marsh, president and co-founder of SouthWest Exotic Avian Rescue. “It’s convenient.”
Sam’s toucan has been living in Las Vegas since November, alarming bird experts and enthusiasts who were concerned about the exotic bird’s health and ability to survive long-term in a city experiencing drastic climate change.
“The little guy decided it was time to help, so he flew into someone’s garage,” Skye told the Associated Press. The homeowners knew who the toucan was and locked the garage so he couldn’t escape. Sam has taken the Las Vegas community by storm after surviving in the desert for months.
After the rescue group caught him, staff took him to a local vet. Skye said there were some signs of “wear and tear,” such as dry skin and a splinter in his beak, but he appeared to be fine. The vet gave him fluids and took blood samples.
Sam has been eating better since the rescue group placed healthy toucan food around the cage to try to save him. Skye said better food has improved his health, as his stool looked healthier before his rescue.
Sam’s owners, who posted on social media about the bird escaping its cage in November, have not been in contact with the rescue group.
The toucan will be quarantined at an employee’s home for 30 to 45 days to ensure it is not infected Bird fluIt spreads to other birds when rescued, Skye said.