Outrage as Pasadena Mailman Caught on Video Attacking Peacock

PASADENA, Calif. — A Pasadena neighborhood is upset after video surfaced showing a mail carrier striking a peacock that residents describe as a familiar and beloved presence on their streets.

The encounter happened Tuesday afternoon and involved the bird known locally as Sugar.

“I saw him get hit with the club, and it was horrible,” Pasadena resident Gina Davis said.

Neighbors say Sugar is a white peacock recognized throughout the area, though they acknowledge the bird has sometimes shown aggressive behavior.

“He could be a little nasty, but he’s a peacock. He’s a wild animal. He just chases everybody around,” Pasadena resident Adela Gaytan said.

Sugar, the well-known Pasadena peacock, became the focus of neighborhood outrage after the alleged attack by a mail carrier was captured on video.

Davis said Sugar has chased the mail carrier before, but she believes that still does not justify hurting the animal.

“There are times when we’ve seen him chase the mail carrier, and I understand, but you can’t just throw rocks and hit with sticks,” she said. “You have to figure out how to take care of that a little bit better.”

Video of the incident appears to show the letter carrier throwing water or another liquid at Sugar before picking up a rock and throwing it at the bird. A short time later, the video shows Sugar standing in front of the mail truck.

The carrier then comes out and hits the peacock with a stick or club.

Sugar flopped around before collapsing. Witnesses said the mail carrier drove away, leaving the bird in the street injured and disoriented.

“He couldn’t move his wings. Something was wrong with his eye,” Davis said. “Maybe that’s where he got hit with the rock. One of his eyes was swollen. It was pretty sad.”

The Pasadena Humane Society is investigating the incident and evaluating Sugar for any injuries.

Outraged residents said they hope the letter carrier is held accountable and that Sugar returns to the neighborhood.

“We love him a lot, and we hope he gets to come back to our neighborhood,” Davis said.

The U.S. Postal Service said several employees have had run-ins with peacocks in the area, including a recent attack. The agency said it is investigating the incident captured on camera.