Embattled Southern California sanctuary surrenders 500 ducks, animal lovers cry ‘birds’ – authorities say they turned a blind eye to bird abuse

Nearly 500 ducks are looking for a new place to waddle after the owner of a troubled Southern California sanctuary surrendered the birds amid allegations of overcrowding and improper care. Local animal activists say the situation is more bird-like than most people realize and that authorities should have acted sooner.

Riverside County Animal Services is currently working to find homes for some 480 webbed vagrants surrendered by Howard Berkowitz, founder of the Anza Duck Sanctuary. This is because officials at the department reported that the site was severely overcrowded.

“While we were aware of the property owner’s intention to maintain an avian sanctuary, a recent investigation revealed the need to take steps to remove the animals from the property due to inappropriate husbandry,” the department said in a statement.

Authorities say the situation has deteriorated to the point where the animals are unable to receive proper care, prompting intervention and frantic efforts to rehome the birds.

But as the county scrambled to install hundreds of ducks, a backlash erupted on social media, with activists saying warning signs were being too often ignored.

Rescue group The Shore Sanctuary slammed the situation in a Facebook video, saying it had repeatedly warned him about Berkowitz.

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“What was publicly presented as a ‘sanctuary’ was in fact the scene of prolonged hoarding, neglect and untold suffering,” the group wrote in a Facebook post yesterday. The group argued that donations continued to flow in despite growing concerns, and that mass surrender was an inevitable result of unchecked expansion.

Yesterday, a California animal rescue nonprofit adopted 11 ducks.

Similar criticism flooded social media posts related to the incident, with commenters blaming the so-called sanctuary’s operators for spiraling out of control. Some argued that conditions included improper breeding, overcrowding, and reliance on public donations without proper infrastructure.

One person commented online: “This is a very sad situation that we were led to believe was good for the ducks.” “I also donated to him.”

Officials confirmed the ducks were removed during an investigation into the situation at the property, which had already been flagged.

Despite the confusion, there was one piece of good news. As a result of the tests, no infectious disease was found in the birds, easing concerns about the spread of infection.

Berkowitz reportedly still has about 500 ducks. The beleaguered birdman told LAist that the online hoax led him to close the sanctuary and plan to move to Northern California.

He is said to be in the process of securing “160 acres” to house the remaining few hundred birds.

Meanwhile, the rescued herd is now housed at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where officials are offering free adoptions in a race against time to find space.

But with hundreds of animals still in need of homes, animal rights groups warn the fallout is far from over.

The Coastal Conservancy added, “This is not a rescue,” after “privately adopting a number of birds from this property” over the past few years. “This is not a sanctuary. Howard Berkowitz must be held accountable for the thousands of lives he failed. Shame on Riverside Animal Control for their despicable response to this seizure.”

The newspaper has reached out to county officials for comment.