A local animal group is searching for answers after one of Ybor City’s iconic roaming chickens was found dead Wednesday.
A member of the Ybor Chickens Society took to Facebook to say they believe the chicken was intentionally killed.
Over the last few months, Ybor City chickens have become a hot-button issue in Tampa. A rise in their numbers and the noise that comes with it has stirred a debate about whether the feathered fowl is deserving of special protections.
Although hawks and other predators like cats, raccoons and possums have helped control the population, the Ybor Chickens Society believes a human is to blame for the latest death.
“Our buddy was killed, and based on how he was found, it was deliberate and certainly by human hands. In the 2-plus years I’ve been involved with these guys, this was the first time I’ve seen something so obviously purposeful, and so I believe it’s a random, one-off tragedy,” the post reads.
They’re asking those with information to step forward and are urging those in the neighborhood to remain vigilant.
