Wildlife officials say a group of teenagers used an electronic cigarette to kill a pelican in an attack that was caught on the security camera of an upscale Fort Lauderdale condominium complex.
The attack occurred Jan. 16.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Liz Barraco says a security guard told officials about the attack.
Barraco told the South Florida Sun Sentinel one teen held the bird down and blew fumes from an electronic cigarette into its beak and eyes. He then held the pelican's beak closed so it couldn't breathe, repeating the action multiple times until it died.
The main suspect is charged with a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Barraco says he'll likely be placed in a juvenile diversion program. The names of the teenagers have not been released.
