Images in this story and above video may be considered disturbing

Rumors are aplenty, and nobody knows the real reason why, but Los Angeles and its surrounding areas have been fortunate to be populated with beautiful, “model citizen” parrots for decades.

But as of late, in a disturbing trend, many of these birds in the San Gabriel Valley are being found by residents with severe wounds, or even dead.

Cleo Watts, founder of non profit animal rehabilitation center Cleo’s Critter Care in Pasadena, says she’s received several calls reporting severe injuries or deaths to the friendly creatures in the area.

“I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls for birds being shot down,” Watts told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw. “It’s very upsetting to know that somebody would do this to these animals.”

Watts admits that the colorful birds are a controversial topic in Pasadena, Altadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. They can be loud and somewhat obnoxious, she said, leading to some wishing the birds weren’t populating the area.

“We have leaf blowers, we have people with loud [car] exhausts, crying babies, barking dogs,” she said. “We don’t go shooting them. So why these guys?”

The suspected targeting of these birds isn’t the first time it’s happened in the L.A. area — it happened just last year in Temple City, when someone placed nets into trees, resulting in the death of some birds.

This time around, Watts said it appears that someone is “shooting” the birds with some kind of weapon. As many as 11 parrots have been killed or severely injured in recent weeks.

The surviving, injured birds have been placed into Watts’ care. She’s taken some to specialists, where they can receive intensive care as needed.

One parrot brought into her care was missing half of a wing, according to Watts.

Anyone with information as to a suspect in these crimes are encouraged to call police. Anyone that finds an injured bird is encouraged to reach out to Watts at cleoscrittercareca@gmail.com.

Officers with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at a Texas port of entry intercepted $31,169,000 worth of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of peppers on Sunday.

The discovery was made by CBP’s Office of Field Operations officers at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas, the agency reported on Tuesday.

METH WORTH OVER $5M CONCEALED IN FAKE WATERMELON PACKAGING SEIZED AT US-MEXICO BORDER

Officers with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Pharr, Texas, port of entry intercepted $31,169,000 worth of methamphetamine concealed within a shipment of serrano peppers on Sunday. (Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images)

On Sunday, a tractor trailer traveling from Mexico attempted to enter the U.S. through the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility. 

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The vehicle was selected for inspection, including the use of non-intrusive inspection equipment, which is when CBP officers discovered the drugs.

Officers located 1,859 packages of alleged methamphetamine concealed inside a shipment of serrano peppers. The drugs weighed 2,155.02 pounds, the agency said.

The meth was concealed inside a shipment of serrano peppers.  (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

$10.2M IN DRUGS DISCOVERED INSIDE REFRIGERATED TRAILER HAULING ROSES AT BORDER, OFFICIALS SAY

“Our CBP officers continue to remain vigilant and intercepted this massive methamphetamine load, preventing it from reaching American streets,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

The meth weighed 2,155.02 pounds and was worth $31,169,000, the agency said. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

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The drugs and the vehicle were seized by the Office of Field Operations and a criminal investigation was initiated by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations.

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Public health officials have reported the first case of clade I mpox in the United States in a person who traveled to California. 

Clade I mpox is different than clade II mpox, which has been circulating in Southern California, across the state and America since 2022. 

Through lab testing, health officials confirmed the case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled to California from Africa. According to CDPH, the case is related to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and East Africa. 

“Historically, clade I has caused more severe illness than clade II; however, recent infections from clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks, especially when cases have access to quality medical care,” health officials clarified. 

The infected individual received treatment in San Mateo County based on their travel history and symptoms, CDPH said, adding that they are isolating at home and recovering, and that anyone who may have been in contact with the person has been notified by public health workers. 

“There is no concern or evidence that mpox clade I is currently spreading between individuals in California or the United States,” health officials said. 

According to the health department, it appears that clade I mpox spreads in a similar manner as clade II mpox – through close skin-to-skin contact, intimate and sexual conduct. 

More information can be found here.