Delaware

Thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck in Delaware have been adopted by families, farms

Published

11 months ago

May 22, 2025

Thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck in Delaware have been adopted by families, farms

Thousands of chicks found abandoned inside a postal service truck for three days have gone to new homes, according to the Delaware shelter that had cared for them, with the last batch picked up on Thursday morning.

All the surviving birds, estimated as more than 5,000 chickens — it was too hard to get a specific count — plus some others like turkeys and quails, were primarily adopted by local families, rescues and farms, according to First State Animal Center and SPCA.

Chicks mill around a stall at First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden, Delaware, May 16, 2025.

Mingson Lau / AP

The chicks were part of a 12,000-bird shipment left unattended in a truck at a Delaware mail distribution center. Trapped in high temperatures without food or hydration, thousands died, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Postal Service has said it is investigating the “process breakdown” that occurred.

For more than two weeks, the surviving birds had been cared for at an overwhelmed First State Animal Center and SPCA, said John Parana, executive director. As a no-kill operation, the shelter would not take adopters planning to use the birds for meat, Parana said. Some of the adopters took hundreds at a time, hoping for egg-laying hens, while others took them as pets.

A teen girl holds a crate with chicks inside, she's adopting them from a shelter in Delaware — The Bruzdzinski family adopted chicks at First State Animal Center and SPCA on May 16, 2025, in Camden, Delaware.

Mingson Lau / AP
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Stephanie Bruzdzinski adopted a handful of chicks after her daughter learned about their situation.

“She was very upset and wanted to help out,” said Bruzdzinski, who was similarly shocked when she heard the news. “She doesn’t like when things aren’t getting taken care of.”

The birds originated from Pennsylvania-based Freedom Ranger Hatchery’s weekly bird shipment to clients around the country, and due to biosecurity concerns, the hatchery cannot take the chicks back, a company spokesperson said.

The chicks are in an animal carrier at the shelter in Delaware — Freedom Ranger chicks sit in a pet kennel before being moved to an adoption area, at First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden, Delaware, May 16, 2025.

Mingson Lau / AP
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Delaware

2 men hospitalized following shooting in Wilmington, Delaware

Published

9 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

2 men hospitalized following shooting in Wilmington, Delaware

Sunday, April 5, 2026 1:55PM

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) — Authorities in Wilmington, Delaware are investigating a shooting that sent two people to the hospital.

It happened just before 6 p.m. Saturday on the 2300 block of Lamotte Street.

Police say a 25-year-old man was shot repeatedly, and a 20-year-old man was shot in the head.

Both victims are hospitalized.

No word on their conditions.

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Delaware

2 injured, including 1 teen, in Wilmington shooting, both in critical condition

Published

21 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

2 injured, including 1 teen, in Wilmington shooting, both in critical condition

WILMINGTON, DE. – Two males were hospitalized in critical condition after a shooting Saturday evening in the area of East 24th and Lamotte Streets, the Wilmington Police Department reported.

What we know:

Officers responding to the scene around 6:15 p.m. found a 16‑year‑old male with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. A 25‑year‑old male was also located at the scene and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

What we don’t know:

The Wilmington Police Department said the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.

What you can do:

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Michael Chambers at (302) 576‑3645.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑TIP‑3333 or online at Delawarecrimestoppers.com.

The Source: Information from the Wilmington Police Department.

Crime & Public SafetyNewsDelaware

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Delaware

Southern Delaware Tourism names 2026 photo contest winners

Published

1 day ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Southern Delaware Tourism names 2026 photo contest winners

Southern Delaware Tourism recently announced the winners of its 10th annual Southern Delaware Photography Contest.

Contest organizers are grateful to professional photographers Pam Aquilani and Tony Pratt, who served as judges again this year.

The grand prize winner was Mark Stelmack of Frankford for “Egrets at Assawoman Wildlife Area, Frankford.”

For her shot of a kayaker on Trap Pond in Laurel, Beth Baker of Greenwood won the Southern Delaware Freestyle category.

Julie Evans’ image of a pup playing on Fenwick Island beach topped the Southern Delaware Dog Days category.

For his “Scene from the Senior League Softball World Series” image, Joe Maciey of Dagsboro won the Southern Delaware Events category.

“This contest was established to celebrate Southern Delaware and to keep our destination top of mind for visitors and potential visitors year-round,” said Scott Thomas, SDT executive director. “We received entries from all over the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. The entries clearly demonstrate the variety and richness of experiences available in Sussex County, and the incredible enjoyment people get from visiting and living here.”

“Each year, the Southern Delaware Tourism photo contest sees more entrants, which makes it both more competitive and more difficult for the judges to narrow down the choices to one winner in each category and a grand prize winner,” said Aqualini.

“There were many great contenders for each of the categories, so judging was, while enjoyable to review all the great photos, hard to choose only one,” said Pratt.

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