In a troubling turn of events, nearly 500 ducks have been surrendered from The Duck Sanctuary in Anza, Riverside County, California, following allegations of overcrowding and improper care. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services intervened after reports indicated that the conditions at the sanctuary had deteriorated significantly, leading to inadequate care for the birds. Local animal activists have expressed outrage, claiming that officials ignored numerous warning signs about the sanctuary's operations. The Shore Sanctuary, a rescue group, stated that what was presented as a sanctuary was actually a site of neglect and hoarding. Despite the chaos, testing confirmed that the surrendered ducks were free from infectious diseases. The sanctuary's founder, Howard Berkowitz, plans to relocate to a larger 160-acre property in Northern California, where he still has around 500 ducks in his care. Meanwhile, the surrendered ducks are currently being housed at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, where they will be available for adoption. Activists continue to call for accountability regarding the treatment of the ducks and the handling of the situation by local authorities.