WELLINGTON, Fla. - A Florida landscaper has been charged with animal cruelty after authorities say he ran over a mother duck and her 11 ducklings with his riding lawnmower.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that police arrested 24-year-old Jason Falbo of Royal Palm Beach on Wednesday. He's charged with nine counts of animal cruelty. Authorities say he mowed down the ducks May 2 at the home of a family caring for them in Wellington. The family says the ducklings were a few days old.

Boyd Jentzsch says his family, including his 7-year-old son, watched from inside their home, screaming as the ducks were run over.

Police say nine ducklings died. The mother and two ducklings survived.

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Falbo is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $27,000 bail.