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Tag: roosters

  • Argument over roosters ends with man fatally shooting his uncle, Texas cops say

    Argument over roosters ends with man fatally shooting his uncle, Texas cops say

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    A Texas man is accused of shooting and killing his uncle after he came to retrieve a pair of roosters he said belonged to him, investigators say.

    A Texas man is accused of shooting and killing his uncle after he came to retrieve a pair of roosters he said belonged to him, investigators say.

    Getty Images/iStockphoto

    A Texas man is accused of fatally shooting his uncle during a fight over a pair of roosters, officials say.

    At about 4 a.m. May 30, deputies responded to a 911 call from a home near Mission and found a man with a gunshot wound inside a bathroom, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The man, later identified as 54-year-old Fernando Madrid, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.

    Multiple family members were outside the house, including the man’s nephew and accused killer, 21-year-old Aaron Cervantes, deputies said.

    Deputies learned that Cervantes came to his uncle’s home with another man in order to take back two roosters he said belonged to him.

    Before he could leave with the roosters, his uncle confronted him and the two men began arguing about who owns the birds, officials said. At some point during the fight, Cervantes shot Madrid with a handgun, killing him, according to the sheriff’s office.

    Cervantes was arrested and jailed on a charge of murder, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies released the man Cervantes arrived with, as it was determined he didn’t commit any crimes.

    Jail records show Cervantes’ bond has been set at $2 million.

    An investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at 956-383-8114.

    Mission is a roughly 250-mile drive south from San Antonio.

    Mitchell Willetts is a real-time news reporter covering the central U.S. for McClatchy. He is a University of Oklahoma graduate and outdoors enthusiast living in Texas.

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  • WTF Fun Fact 13606 – Rooster Recognition

    WTF Fun Fact 13606 – Rooster Recognition

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    What’s rooster recognition? Well, it turns out that roosters might recognize themselves in mirrors. This finding from the University of Bonn not only sheds light on chicken behavior but also hints at broader implications for animal cognition.

    Breaking Down the Experiment of Rooster Recognition

    The traditional way of testing self-recognition in animals is through the “Mark Test.” An animal is marked in a spot they can’t see without a mirror. If the animal then inspects the mark in the mirror, it’s taken as evidence of self-recognition. However, this test can be problematic, as not all animals respond to it, potentially due to the artificial nature of the experiment.

    Researchers at the University of Bonn, alongside the Ruhr University in Bochum, took a different approach. They focused on a behavior integral to chickens: the alarm call. Roosters often alert their peers to danger, like an approaching predator, through specific calls. Interestingly, when alone, they remain silent to avoid drawing attention to themselves. This natural behavior became the cornerstone of the experiment.

    Roosters Responding to Reflection

    In a controlled environment, the researchers projected an image of a predator and observed the roosters’ reactions. When in the presence of another rooster, separated by a grid, the birds frequently issued alarm calls. In solitude, these calls are drastically reduced. This showed that roosters typically alert their peers to danger.

    The intriguing part came when researchers replaced the grid with a mirror. Facing their reflection and the simulated predator, the roosters rarely sounded the alarm. This suggested they didn’t perceive their reflection as another bird. While some may argue they saw a mimicking stranger in the mirror, the lack of alarm calls pointed to a potential self-recognition.

    Understanding Animal Cognition

    This study goes beyond just understanding animal cognition; it could influence how we conduct future research in the field. By integrating behavior that’s ecologically relevant to the species in question, researchers may obtain more accurate results. The classic Mark test might not always be the best indicator of self-recognition, as demonstrated by the roosters’ behavior.

    The implications of this research extend beyond the barnyard. Understanding animal self-recognition and awareness is crucial for discussions surrounding animal rights and welfare. If animals like roosters possess a level of self-awareness previously unrecognized, it could call for a reevaluation of how we treat them.

    — WTF fun facts

    Source: “Roosters might recognize themselves in the mirror” — ScienceDaily

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | 27 Roosters Rescued From Cockfighting Urgently…

    Austin Pets Alive! | 27 Roosters Rescued From Cockfighting Urgently…

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    Dec 19, 2022

    Twenty-seven roosters who were rescued out of cockfighting, now need urgent placement at sanctuaries or approved homes. If they are not placed, they may be euthanized as soon as early next week.

    These roosters were rescued out of a cockfighting bust on November 10, in which the Austin Police Department Animal Cruelty Unit seized 43 animals (9 hens and 34 roosters). After the court case, the animals were removed from the owners. The hens and two roosters were quickly adopted, leaving 32 roosters remaining at Austin Animal Center (AAC).

    AAC notified Austin Pets Alive! recently that they would like assistance placing these roosters with sanctuaries or in homes, given APA!’s success in saving the lives of animals who would be euthanized in nearly any other shelter. We did not hesitate to say yes, but time is of the essence.

    APA! has assisted with finding sanctuaries for some of the roosters already. Today there are approximately 27 birds still in the city shelter.

    These are animals who were saved out of unimaginable cruelty. “These roosters did not get a happy start to life,” says Austin Pets Alive!’s senior program manager Kelly Holt. “Cockfighting is a brutal, illegal sport. We want to help give these roosters a second chance at life, because it’s the right thing to do.”

    We don’t know the history of every individual rooster, but there are clues about what each bird has experienced. Some still have their combs and wattles—the fleshy skin on top of their head, and below their beak—and their spurs, which are horn-like leg growths the animals use to protect themselves. These are likely the younger roosters, who haven’t yet been forced to fight.

    They may have an easier time learning to trust humans and integrating into flocks, than the older birds. “The ones who have their combs and wattles removed or spurs cut are likely ones who have fought or been trained to fight. They will take more patience and time,” Kelly says.

    APA! can offer support and guidance for any potential adopters and interested sanctuaries about training, rehabilitation, and care. Kelly recommends, to start, that anyone adopting one of the rescued roosters to “give them a space to decompress and feel safe.” The roosters can be introduced to a flock of hens, and may even be able to integrate with them right away, though others may take more time.

    What is certain is that these animals, saved from a cruelty they never should have had to endure, should not now be killed simply for lack of having a safe place to stay. But time is running out.

    APA! knows that the remaining roosters likely have a few days before “quality of life” decisions will be made. If you know of a sanctuary, or person who could undergo screening from a sanctuary, interested in adopting these roosters, please email [email protected].

    “It’s a challenge finding these roosters safe homes, and it would be easy to shrug our shoulders,” Kelly says. “But I love working for an animal welfare nonprofit willing to step up and champion the lives of animals who need our help the most.”

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