Teens release 40 chickens in city park causing massive cleanup effort

Benjamin Rank

19 Aug 2025 — 2 min read

Local park visitors got the shock of their lives when dozens of chickens suddenly appeared on walking paths and playgrounds.

Nobody knew where they came from – until security footage revealed an unexpected midnight operation.

Multiple chickens wandering through a public park with playground equipment and walking paths visible

Late Night Park Invasion

The chaos started at Riverside Park just after midnight on Tuesday. Security cameras caught four teenagers pulling up in a pickup truck loaded with crates.

What happened next left park officials completely stunned.

"At first, we thought someone was dumping trash," said Park Ranger Steve Martinez. "Then we saw them releasing chicken after chicken into the park."

Security camera footage showing teenagers unloading crates from a pickup truck at night

Morning Mayhem

Early morning joggers found themselves dodging very unexpected obstacles on their usual routes.

"I came around the corner and there were chickens everywhere," said Sarah Chen, who runs in the park daily. "They were on the benches, in the flower beds, even trying to get on the swings."

Park maintenance crews rushed to the scene but quickly realized they had a major problem on their hands.

The Great Chicken Chase

It took park staff and animal control officers over six hours to round up all the birds.

The chickens didn't make it easy. Many had found perfect hiding spots in bushes and under playground equipment.

"These weren't your average lazy farm chickens. They were surprisingly fast and really good at ducking under things," explained Animal Control Officer Pete Wilson.

Mystery Solved

Police finally tracked down the teens responsible through the truck's license plate on security footage.

The four high school seniors had "borrowed" the chickens from a local farm as part of an elaborate senior prank.

The teens now face charges of trespassing and animal endangerment. They'll also help clean up the considerable mess left behind by their feathered friends.

The chickens have all been safely returned to their original farm. The park is now back to normal – minus a few torn-up flower beds and some very unusual marks on the playground slides.

Local officials say this ranks as one of the strangest incidents they've ever handled. The teens' parents will cover all cleanup costs, estimated at nearly $2,000.

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