Updated October 20, 2026, 6:23 p.m. ET
A Canadian man who carried a pink flamingo out of its enclosure at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, took the bird to his hotel room and left it injured has been found guilty of animal cruelty.
On Oct. 19, a Clark County jury found Mitchell Grant Fairbarn, a 34-year-old Ontario resident, guilty of one felony and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty after prosecutors said he grabbed a Chilean flamingo named Peachy by the legs and neck, dragged the bird and caused it injuries that required treatment. The verdict came after a five-day trial in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court.
This unusual case gained attention because of surveillance footage, Snapchat photos and Fairbarn’s own testimony that he planned to bring the bird to his hotel room to show it to his friends as a joke. Prosecutors said Peachy was injured during the encounter but has since recovered. Fairbarn faces up to four years in prison and six months in county jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1.
Fairbarn’s attorney did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on Oct. 20.
Here’s what we know about Peachy the flamingo and the man who was convicted of taking the bird out of its enclosure and injuring the animal.
How Peachy the Flamingo Got Hurt
The charges stem from an incident around 5 a.m. March 3 at Flamingo Wildlife Habitat in Las Vegas.
According to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY, prosecutors said Fairbarn entered the habitat and grabbed Peachy, a Chilean flamingo who lives in the hotel’s outdoor enclosure. They alleged he grabbed the bird by its legs, dragged it, hugged it, grabbed it by the neck and ripped out its feathers.
Habitat surveillance video shows Fairbarn walking through the flamingo habitat for about 10 minutes while talking on the phone with a co-worker, according to KLAS-TV. He eventually entered the water near a waterfall before catching the bird.
Flamingo found himself in a hotel room
During his testimony, Fairbarn admitted taking the flamingo but said he did not intend to harm it.
When his attorney asked him if he had malicious intent, Fairbarn said no, according to KLAS-TV.
Instead, he testified that he intended to take the bird to his hotel room on the 14th floor and show it to friends.
“I thought it was something we could joke about for the rest of our lives,” Fairbarn testified, according to KLAS-TV.
Fairbarn said he kept the flamingo for about 15 minutes and the bird only spent a few minutes in the hotel room before someone released it into a hallway.
Snapchat photos presented during the case showed a shirtless Fairbarn smiling while carrying Peachy. Additional footage reportedly showed two of his friends also handling the bird, FOX5 reported.
Hotel employees found injured bird
In police body camera footage reviewed by USA TODAY, hotel employees told officers that Peachy appeared to have abrasions on one wing and what they believed to be an open wound that could become infected.
Employees also reported missing feathers and other signs of injuries.
“The flamingos are our family,” an employee told police.
Workers noted that many of the birds in the habitat are decades old, with some between 40 and 50 years old. Some suffer from arthritis and depend on the habitat for their care.
Wyatt Mayhall, Flamingo facilities manager at the complex, said he first searched the wrong floor before locating Peachy. He finally wrapped the bird in a towel and took it away.
Mayhall said he noticed the flamingo was shaking and saw red spots on the towel, according to KLAS-TV.
Under cross-examination, Fairbarn admitted that the bird had been injured.
A veterinarian later said Peachy had since recovered from his injuries.
Defendant claims alcohol motivated poor decision
Fairbarn was in Las Vegas attending a construction show when the incident occurred, according to KLAS-TV.
He had recently learned that his father had been diagnosed with cancer and testified that he turned off his phone and decided to “let go.”
Fairbarn testified that he had drunk 30 to 40 beers about 24 hours before the incident.
He later turned his phone back on while near the flamingo habitat and called a work colleague. During his testimony, he also admitted to lying to security personnel about seeing an injured animal.
Fairbarn told jurors he made a bad decision, but questioned whether his actions warranted a felony conviction.
“Justice for Peachy”
Clark County Prosecutor Steven B. Wolfson praised the jury’s verdict and said Peachy endured unnecessary suffering.
“He was a helpless flamingo who endured senseless cruelty, and we are grateful to know that Peachy is doing well today,” Wolfson said in a statement posted on Instagram. “Justice for Peachy!” »
Fairbarn’s attorney did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on Oct. 20.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trends team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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