State-protected hawk given a joint, fed a BuzzBall on video by California man, officials say

Not solely is it a foul concept to feed birds alcohol, however to then file it and have it posted on-line as proof? Nicely, that might get you a jail sentence.

That was the lesson a Los Angeles man realized final week when he was sentenced to 45 days in jail after he gave a Cooper’s hawk a BuzzBall, a kind of ready-to-serve cocktail identified for its fruity taste, and a video of him doing it was posted to YouTube.

Cesar Gustavo Diaz, 25, of Watts pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor cost of animal cruelty Feb. 19. He was additionally ordered to serve 12 months of probation and 20 days of group labor, and to finish a 24-session animal cruelty counseling program, the California Division of Fish and Wildlife stated in a information launch.

Diaz captured the juvenile hawk at Amelia Mayberry Park in South Whittier in June 2025 and poured the alcoholic beverage into its mouth, authorities stated. In line with its web site, a BuzzBall incorporates about 15% alcohol.

One other clip posted to YouTube confirmed the chicken with a joint in its mouth, stated Trevor Pell, a lieutenant specialist with the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s regulation enforcement division, who investigated the case.

“This reality sample is certainly an uncommon one,” Pell stated. “We cope with violations concerning raptors and birds of prey on a relative frequency however I haven’t seen something to this degree of disregard for the animal in fairly some time.”

Individuals who noticed the YouTube video alerted state wildlife officers, prompting the investigation. Diaz is a convicted felon and was already in custody on unrelated expenses on the time, and he launched the hawk earlier than he was charged, investigators stated.

He’s since been launched from custody after receiving credit score for time served, Pell stated.

Diaz can be prohibited from possessing animals for 5 years, and from possessing firearms for 10 years, in response to the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Cooper’s hawks are protected below the federal Migratory Chook Treaty Act, in addition to state regulation, which protects all raptors.

Nick Buckler, captain of the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s particular operations unit, credited members of the general public with bringing the video to the eye of investigators.

“One thing like this, which is comparatively weird and stunning to the conscience of the general public, usually involves our unit, and we observe up in this type of vogue,” he stated, “so we actually recognize the ideas.”