Cockfighting has been illegal in Florida since 1986 but it still goes on — including, apparently, in the Florida Keys.
The Monroe County Sheriff's office got a tip that chickens were being bred to fight at a property on Rockland Key, about four miles from Key West.
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Three detectives went to the edge of the property and saw lots of caged chickens, a "bloody fighting ring" and a bait stick, the sheriff's office reported. A bait stick is a fake chicken head used to rile up roosters in the ring. The sheriff's office reported many of the roosters were injured.
The detectives got a search warrant and came back where they found 310 chickens, along with spurs, scales, sewing needles, syringes, liquid drugs used to treat infections and stopwatches.
A 54-year-old Key West man was booked into jail Monday on two felony charges: owning property used for animal fighting and owning equipment used for animal fighting.
The Florida Keys SPCA, which handles animal control for the county, took charge of the chickens.
