A US landscaper is accused of running over a mother duck and her 11 ducklings with a lawnmower as a family that was feeding the birds watched in horror.
Jason Falbo, 24, has been charged with nine counts of animal cruelty over the incident on 2 May in Wellington, south Florida.
The ducks were eating their lunch on the grass near a tree in the family's backyard when Falbo allegedly struck.
Boyd Jentzsch says his family, including his seven-year-old son, were watching from inside their home and screamed as the ducks were run over.
Mother duck and ducklings The mother and two ducklings survived. File pic
Mr Jentzsche says he ran outside and confronted Falbo, reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
He told the newspaper the landscaper was smiling as he reversed the mower and ran over the ducklings again.
Mr Jentzsche called the police and the county's Animal Care and Control.
Nine ducklings were killed, including two who escaped into a lake with their mother, but drowned.
The mother and two ducklings survived.
Witness Laura Gontchar told the Palm Beach Post: "Everything was flying in the air, the blade was so powerful. It was horrific."
She said the mother duck returned to their backyard in search of her ducklings hours after the incident.
A police arrest report said the ducklings lost their lives "cruelly and viciously with extreme intent".
Falbo, of Royal Palm Beach, was arrested on Wednesday.
He is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $27,000 (£17,000) bail.
Happens all the time to ground-nesting birds. When a field of cereal has been cut, you'll often see the sliced-up remains of a hen pheasant with her brood on the ground.
An inevitable consequence of vegetarianism.
Happens all the time to ground-nesting birds. When a field of cereal has been cut, you'll often see the sliced-up remains of a hen pheasant with her brood on the ground.An inevitable consequence of vegetarianism.
Read the text and comments before looking at the link.
Looking at the state of the felon, makes me wonder what other criminal, and unsavoury activities, he has been involved in!
Read the text and comments before looking at the link.Looking at the state of the felon, makes me wonder what other criminal, and unsavoury activities, he has been involved in!