HOUSTON – Hundreds of pigeons were found in crates Wednesday in downtown Houston, authorities said.

The incident was reported by a Rick Garrett, a man who claims he’s been feeding the pigeons in the same parking lot located on Fannin Street near Preston Street since 2010.

"I don't really know why they want to be cruel to animals," Garrett said.

Garrett said the pigeons were feeding until a man and a woman pulled up and started using a net to catch them.

"This is the second time I've seen this Spanish guy and his wife," Garrett said. "They came in last time, and I stopped them."

Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said the couple were using a large net to capture the birds, which totaled 350 pigeons.

“They were capturing these birds so that they could sell them to a San Antonio shooting range, where they were going to be used as shooting decoys or something along those lines,” Rosen said.

Rosen said the two people face animal cruelty charges.

Texas game wardens said they have not ruled out charges but will wait until the investigation is complete.