(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – With recent news stories about livestock being killed or injured by darts from blowguns, The Appeal-Democrat reports it was contacted by an Edgewater resident, claiming similar injuries to the birds he regularly feeds in his backyard.

In today’s (Friday) edition, Michael Counts tells the paper “Someone’s using a blowgun to shoot darts at doves and now we’ve found the second dove to be injured.” He added, “We’re also hearing stories across Yuba City that somebody’s doing this from around the area, we don’t know where. Doves, cats, dogs and even horses, some people call them arrows but they’re not arrows they’re only about 6-inches long.”

Counts is an avid birdwatcher and “claims to spend nearly $400 a month” on backyard feeders. At least 2 doves have been injured and Yuba County’s Animal Care Coordinator tells The Appeal-Democrat, “We have no leads on to where this happened or suspect information,” Heather Nall goes on to say, “We also have not had any official reports of birds being affected by darts. We do however ask that anyone with information about these incidents contact Animal Control Services or the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office.”

Anyone with information, or additional reports of similar blowgun attacks, is urged to contact the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department at 530-749-5117