A toucan named Sam has been living in the Las Vegas desert since escaping his cage in November, surviving on local fruits until his health deteriorated. The exotic bird, native to Central and South American rainforests, was first spotted by Katherine Eddington last week in North Las Vegas, who recognized the colorful-billed bird from social media posts.

SouthWest Exotic Avian Rescue has been attempting to capture Sam for months as his condition worsens in the harsh desert environment. Skye Marsh, president of the rescue group, reports the bird now shows signs of struggle including sunken eyes and discolored beak skin. The Las Vegas climate with its extreme summer heat and cold winters poses severe challenges for a tropical species unaccustomed to such conditions.

Bird experts note that Sam has likely been surviving on figs and pomegranates from the Los Prados neighborhood before switching to harmful citrus fruits. Toucans cannot process the calcium in citrus, which can be deadly to their livers. The rescue team has set up a cage with food and urges residents to stop feeding the bird, as human presence spooks him. Marsh emphasizes that neighbors should avoid approaching Sam, allowing professionals to capture and provide urgent veterinary care to flush the iron from his system and restore his health.