Additional Coverage:
Las Vegas, NV – February 26, 2025 – After months on the lam, a colorful toucan named Sam, who had been enjoying a bit too much freedom in the Las Vegas valley since November 2025, has finally been safely captured. His grand adventure came to an end after he decided to make an unexpected pit stop in a local homeowner’s garage.
Southwest Exotic Avian Rescue, the dedicated team that had been tirelessly searching for “Sam Toucan,” confirmed the good news. The homeowners, recognizing the distinctive bird from news reports, promptly contacted the rescue group after Sam flew into their garage on Wednesday.
Skye Marsh, the hero of the hour who recovered Sam for Southwest Exotic Avian Rescue, wasted no time in whisking the feathered fugitive off to a veterinarian for a thorough check-up.
Marsh shared some insights into Sam’s time in the wild, telling KVVU-TV, “His beak is a little beat up. He’s got some missing patches of feathers and stuff.
You can tell that he’s had some run-ins with things. The tip of his beak is chipped off.
So he’s got some stories in that little bird brain.” Despite these battle scars, Marsh noted that Sam appears to be in remarkably good health, especially considering he’d been fending for himself since November 14.
The challenges of the desert environment for a tropical bird like Sam are significant. Marsh explained, “All of these birds come from very humid areas, and that’s not us.”
She emphasized the highly specific care toucans require, even down to their water. “Just trying to give them tap water can kill them because they can build up iron in their system and it can kill them,” she warned.
“This kid needs a lot of things that we don’t have here, and that’s kind of scary. So we need to kind of band together and get him safe and get him where he gets the things that he needs to survive, not just to survive, but to thrive.”
For now, Sam will remain in quarantine as he undergoes bloodwork and other tests to ensure his full recovery and well-being.