A Canadian tourist is facing serious charges after Las Vegas police say he broke into the Flamingo hotel’s wildlife habitat, stole a flamingo, and brought the injured bird back to his hotel room. Mitchell Fairbarn, a 33-year-old from Ontario, Canada, has been charged with four counts of felony animal abuse, according to court records.
According to 8 News Now, the incident began when Metro police received a call from the hotel reporting that a man had broken into the flamingo habitat and injured several birds. Surveillance footage showed Fairbarn entering the bird enclosure at around 5 AM, grabbing a flamingo named “Peachy,” and pinning down a second bird before returning to his room.
When police questioned Fairbarn, he admitted to trespassing into the habitat. He claimed he saw a flamingo in distress and tried to help by “popping” its wing back into place, saying this was a “common practice for birds, such as ducks” because he is a “farm boy.”
The evidence against the tourist tells a very different story
Police found “several photos and videos” on Fairbarn’s phone showing him with the animal. In one video, he indicated he was taking the bird home. Animal control specialists told police that Fairbarn had actually injured Peachy by allegedly having “pulled the wing out of the bird’s body.” Several other birds in the habitat were also injured during the incident. Las Vegas has seen its fair share of shocking tourist incidents at the Strat, and this case adds to the city’s growing list of visitor controversies.
When police searched Fairbarn’s hotel room, they found “a large bloody feather” along with other material. During a probable cause hearing on Wednesday, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Suzan Baucum set his bail at $12,000 and ordered him not to have any animals in his possession, to surrender his passport, and to stay away from the Strip.
Records show Fairbarn posted bond on Wednesday, though he was still listed at the Clark County Detention Center as of Wednesday afternoon. He is due back in court on Monday, March 9. Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Flamingo hotel, released a statement saying they were deeply distressed by the incident and would be pursuing charges against Fairbarn to the fullest extent possible.
This is not the first time Caesars has been at the center of visitor complaints, as some tourists have reported troubling experiences at Caesars Palace. They noted that the safety and well-being of their “iconic flock” are very important to them.
Peachy and the other injured birds are currently receiving care from veterinarians and the hotel’s animal care team, and the company is hopeful that all the birds will make a full recovery. The Flamingo habitat is home to Chilean Flamingos, various exotic waterfowl, and Brown Pelicans.
Published: Mar 6, 2026 08:45 am