In Nantucket, a seagull’s clam-cracking trick leaves a car with a broken window

Usually the work of a criminal, this time the culprit for a broken window of a car in Nantucket, Massachusetts, was someone unexpected: a hungry seagull.

The bird’s unusual crime spree left residents laughing, scratching their heads, and in some cases, filing insurance claims.

Police officers responded to the scene, but as you might imagine, they didn’t have handcuffs to fit.

Bizarrely, this isn’t even the first time the feathered felon has struck.

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The seagull’s aim was a little off

The latest incident unfolded outside a local establishment called Wicked Island Bakery.

On Wednesday morning, general manager Heather Woodbury discovered the back windshield of her car smashed in.

At first, it looked like someone had vandalized her vehicle, or perhaps attempted to steal her vehicle.

But when Nantucket police arrived, they quickly pieced together the mystery.

A local police officer noted the telltale evidence: a quahog clam lying in the back seat.

Apparently, the seagull had been attempting a common feeding trick.

Seagulls often scoop up hard-shelled clams or crabs, then drop them from the air to crack them open on pavement or rocks.

This time, though, the gull’s aim was a little off.

Instead of smashing the clam on the ground, it torpedoed straight through Woodbury’s car window, leaving behind broken glass and an unwanted seafood delivery.

And while broken windows are sometimes a great marketing moment, this is not one of those situations.

A feathered Nantucket criminal

But here’s where the story gets even stranger.

According to the Nantucket Current, this might not be the first offense for the same bird.

In August 2024, former Nantucket Airport manager Noah Karberg reported that a seagull swooped down in a Stop & Shop parking lot and snatched his wallet.

Whether this is the same gull remains unconfirmed, but locals are joking about an avian bandit with a growing rap sheet.

For now, the ‘clam-drop bandit’ remains at large.

Police can’t exactly book a seagull, but they’re reminding residents to be cautious of swooping birds, especially those with seafood in tow.

While most bird-related mischief on the island is harmless, this case shows that seagulls aren’t just after your French fries.

Sometimes they can leave you with a broken window and a hefty repair bill.

On the bright side, it probably costs significantly less to repair a car window than a plane engine damaged by a bird strike.

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