Police in the Delaware resort of Rehoboth Beach say a Canadian man has been charged for allowing his daughter

to allegedly lure a seagull to a hole in the sand, where she killed it with a plastic shovel.

A police statement says officers were called to the beach on Wednesday about complaints that a girl was trying to hit seagulls with a shovel.

The statement says the 13-year-old put food in a hole in the sand and allegedly killed one seagull, which was later found in a trash can.

Authorities say officers found the girl's father, 48-year-old Christian Lesieur of Quebec, drinking alcohol on the beach.

Police say Lesieur was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanour. It's not known if he has a lawyer.