Birds

Pelican Welfare in Coastal Environments

Pelicans in coastal areas increasingly suffer from fishing line entanglement, hook ingestion, and loss of nesting habitat.

Key Facts

Brown pelicans dive from heights of 60 feet to catch fish
They were delisted from endangered status in the US in 2009
Fishing line entanglement is now the leading cause of pelican injury
Hook ingestion causes internal bleeding and slow death
Coastal development destroys nesting colony sites

Welfare Considerations

Pelicans entangled in monofilament fishing line suffer from wing injuries, strangulation, and drowning. Hooks swallowed during feeding cause internal perforations and infections. Injured pelicans that cannot fish face starvation. Rehabilitation of fishing-related injuries is resource-intensive. Nesting colony disturbance from human activity causes chick abandonment.

What You Can Do

Properly dispose of all fishing line and hooks
Support monofilament recycling programs at fishing areas
Donate to pelican rehabilitation centers
Advocate for fishing-free zones around pelican nesting colonies