Brown pelicans have recovered remarkably from near-extinction caused by DDT but continue to face welfare threats from fishing gear entanglement and disturbance.
Pelicans entangled in fishing line suffer lacerations, wing damage, and starvation as they cannot fish effectively. Hooks embedded in bills or throats prevent swallowing of prey. Oiled pelicans require intensive rehabilitation involving repeated bathing and tube feeding over weeks. Disturbance of breeding colonies during the incubation period causes egg and chick abandonment. The species remarkable recovery demonstrates the welfare benefits of effective conservation.