Pasadena's well-known white peacock, affectionately called Sugar, has made a full recovery after being struck by a postal worker last month and has since been relocated to a private ranch in Northern California. The Pasadena Humane Society announced this week that the bird, which had been under the care of its veterinary and wildlife teams for several weeks, was moved on Tuesday.
The nonprofit organization stated in a Facebook post that its wildlife experts determined relocation would offer Sugar "the best quality of life" and help manage the high public attention surrounding his case, aiming to reduce the risk of future negative encounters.
Sugar first made headlines on August 18, when resident Gina Davis discovered the injured bird in the 3700 block of Mohawk Street. The peacock had been a familiar presence in the neighborhood for years, known for its distinctive appearance and sometimes challenging disposition, particularly towards men.
Davis, a Pasadena schoolteacher, described the bird's personality, noting that "when it came to males, he could be a little, well, aggressive," having previously chased off her husband and a neighbor. It was her husband who named the bird Sugar, she added, "because it was white, not because of his personality."
Security footage from Davis's home revealed the cause of Sugar's injuries. The video captured the peacock following a mail carrier to his truck and then standing in front of it. The footage showed the postal worker throwing a rock at the bird before striking it with a club or stick, hitting it in the head or neck area.
Pasadena Humane immediately transported Sugar to its Wildlife Center. Veterinarians found swelling from the incident but confirmed that the bird had no broken bones. After weeks of rehabilitation, the bird was deemed fit for transfer.
Both the U.S. Postal Service and Pasadena Humane launched investigations into the incident. The U.S. Postal Service has not identified the mail carrier involved and did not respond to a request for comment. However, officials had previously indicated that postal employees have had other encounters with peacocks and were working with the Pasadena Humane Society on concerns involving the birds.
Pasadena Humane has completed its investigation and referred the case to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. A spokesperson for the district attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the referral.
For residents like Gina Davis, Sugar's relocation brings mixed emotions. She expressed that it was "bittersweet" and acknowledged, "We do miss him. ... He was a staple in the neighborhood." While Davis had initially hoped Sugar might be moved to the Los Angeles County arboretum, she ultimately understands the decision made for his well-being.
