A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly torturing a great blue heron to death by cutting off the protected bird’s legs and slitting its throat in front of his distraught son.

Fritz Eugene, 67, is accused of fatally stabbing the federally protected heron after he brought it back to his Port St. Lucie home following a fishing trip last Friday, police said.

He allegedly snatched the bird after becoming enraged that the heron had started eating his fishing bait, according to his arrest affidavit.

His wife reported the disturbing allegations on Sunday when cops responded to a domestic disturbance at the family’s home.

The spouse showed police a graphic photo she had found on her daughter’s phone of Eugene holding the slain bird, according to the police report.

The girl told investigators that her father had the bird with him when he picked her up from school after his fishing trip on March 31.

“The bird was still alive at this point but had a broken leg. It appeared the father had injured the bird when he grabbed it,” the police report said.

After arriving home, Eugene allegedly took the bird outside before he “cut its leg off and slit its throat” in front of his son.

The boy was left “distraught” by the ordeal, cops said.

When questioned by cops, Eugene denied any knowledge of the alleged torture. He also claimed he had never come into contact with the heron — despite cops informing him of the grim photo.

Eugene was taken into custody and slapped with multiple charges, including animal cruelty and cruelty towards a child.

Blue herons are protected federally under the US Migratory Brid Treaty Act, as well as the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.