A brown pelican was admitted to our hospital due to entanglement in fishing line and embedded hooks throughout his body. Read this article to learn more about his treatment and what we can do to prevent this from happening to other birds!
This juvenile pelican was admitted to our hospital today with several fishing hooks embedded in his neck and wing. Luckily for this young guy, the damage wasn’t too extensive. The hooks were all removed, the wounds were treated, and he was fed. Our staff will observe him overnight, but we’re hopeful he’ll be released tomorrow!
FIshing line entanglement, often accompanied with embedded hooks, is a primary reason for birds to be admitted to our hospital for care. Because fishermen and pelicans are both trying to catch fish, it is natural for them to wind up in the same spot- but there are actions we can take to enjoy fishing in our beautiful lakes and oceans to keep the local wildlife safe:
- Always make sure to leave only footprints! Human items, like soda cans, headphones, fishing line, hooks, and more can cause damage to our local wildlife. Animals can become entangled in these items, often leading to the loss of a limb or tethering, preventing them from eating. They can also ingest these items, which often requires surgical intervention for removal.
- If you accidentally hook a bird, don’t cut the line! Gently reel the bird in towards you, cover the bird’s head with a towel to keep them calm, push the hook through and cut the barb, then back the hook out of the bird. In most cases, the bird can be let back into the wild immediately, but if you are ever not sure, please feel free to call our rescue line! It is better to be safe than sorry, and we are always happy to help make sure these gorgeous creatures are as healthy as they can be.
- Share this information! When people know better, they do better- so sharing knowledge on actions we can take to help wildlife is crucial. You can start by sharing this post on your page, mentioning the positive impact that responsible fishermanship has on our environment, and supporting organizations that provide treatment to birds that need it and guidance to those who want to do the right thing!
- Donate! While this particular pelican will likely need only a short stay to recover from his wounds, many others suffer reduced circulation due to fishing line entanglement, starvation from being tethered by the line, and other more critical issues that require more in depth treatment. It can cost a lot to keep them fed- they eat only fish, and we go through about 1000 pounds of fish a week between our patients and permanent resident birds. If you are a fisherman and have extra fish to spare, we can definitely use it- the birds do prefer the fresher catches- and if you are not a fisherman, you can collect some pennies for pelicans to support their dining habits.
If you are looking for some fun trinkets, tshirts, bags, mugs, cards, jewelry, or other assorted items that will also support a local nonprofit, please visit our gift shop on site! You can also purchase items online from our gift shop by clicking here if you are not able to make it in person!
