Man tries to sneak bags of exotic birds into California, feds say. It ends badly
A man tried to sneak more than a dozen exotic birds into California from Mexico in his SUV, and two of the birds died, federal prosecutors said.
The 26-year-old, from San Diego, was arrested and later appeared in federal court on a charge of importation contrary to law, according to a court filing and a May 20 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
McClatchy News reached out to the man’s attorney May 21 and was awaiting a response.
The man tried to smuggle the 17 exotic birds on May 4 via the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, according to a complaint filed in federal court.
He was driving a 2015 Dodge Durango with two other adults and two children inside, prosecutors said.
Under the back seat, officers found bags with the birds, including 10 burrowing parakeets, two red-lored Amazon parrots and five yellow-crowned Amazon parrots, according to prosecutors. The pair of red-lored Amazon chicks died, prosecutors said.
There also were three chickens in the vehicle, the complaint said.
The birds that survived were taken to a U.S. Department of Agriculture quarantine facility, according to prosecutors.
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Man tries to sneak bags of exotic birds into California, feds say. It ends badly."
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