Man arrested for killing duckling, injuring others in Irvine

An Orange County man has been arrested after allegedly killing a duckling and injuring another in Irvine. Randall Bertsch, 71, was taken into custody on suspicion of animal cruelty following an incident at a community pool near Morena and Segura streets on Wednesday morning. Police say Bertsch collected several ducklings from the pool, struck them with a plastic trash bin, and discarded them in a trash can. One duckling was found dead, and another suffered severe head trauma. The injured duckling was treated at a veterinary clinic, while the remaining ducklings escaped with their mother. Witnesses reported the incident to Irvine Police, who identified Bertsch as the suspect and executed a search warrant at his home. The case will be reviewed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Police emphasized that migratory birds are federally protected and urged residents to contact Animal Services for wildlife assistance.