Police uncovered more than 200 roosters allegedly being prepared for cockfighting in Apopka.

  • Police acting on concerned caller's tip, found more than 200 roosters
  • Police say evidence points to preparing birds for fighting
  • Police say occupants admitted to preparing birds for fighting out of Florida

Apopka police, Orange County Animal Control and the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Agricultural Crimes Unit discovered the roosters at a home on South Apopka Boulevard Thursday. 

While officers found no evidence of cockfighting on the property, they did find evidence that the birds were being prepared for fighting. 

Apopka police say the people interviewed on property confirmed the animals were raised and prepped to be sent to places outside of Florida where cockfighting is legal. 

Apopka's police chief said people do not realize that preparing or training an animal to fight is still a crime.

"The Apopka Police Dept. takes this offense, in affition to the actual offense of fighting the animals, seriously and will continue to actively investigate any allegations of abuse," Chief Michael McKinley said.

Police are still investigating and charges may be filed.

It's not clear whether the roosters were removed from the property.

Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. However, it is only a felony in 37 states and D.C. Possession of birds for fighting purposes is prohibited in 38 states. Some states have particularly lax cockfighting penalties. 

A federal law, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, was passed in 2007, and makes it a federal crime to transfer animals for fighting across state or national borders or sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture.

Cockfighting is still legal in Puerto Rico, the U.s. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, as well as other countries outside the United States.

Find animal protection laws by state on the Animal Legal Defense Fund website.