Pelican Conservation and Fishing Line Entanglement

Pelicans are frequently injured by discarded fishing line and hooks, causing painful entanglement injuries that require rehabilitation and represent a largely preventable welfare problem.

Key Facts

Monofilament fishing line can take 600 years to decompose in the environment
Brown pelicans were nearly extinct in the 1970s due to DDT but have since recovered significantly
An estimated 400,000 seabirds including pelicans die from fishing line and hook injuries annually
Fishing line entanglement around wings and bills causes infections leading to amputation or death
Pelican rehabilitation centers treat hundreds of line-injured birds per year in coastal US states
Monofilament recycling bins at fishing sites significantly reduce environmental line deposition
Pelicans are colonial nesters and highly sensitive to disturbance at nesting sites

Welfare Considerations

Fishing line injuries in pelicans are among the most painful and protracted wildlife welfare problems encountered by rehabilitators. Line wrapped around a wing progressively cuts through tissue as the bird moves, causing injuries that can reach bone within days. Hook ingestion causes internal lacerations and lead poisoning if lead weights are swallowed. Many birds are not found until injuries are advanced. Even those successfully rehabilitated face weeks of painful treatment. The preventability of these injuries — through responsible disposal of fishing line — makes each case particularly significant from a welfare perspective.

What You Can Do

Always collect and properly dispose of all fishing line and hooks after use
Use monofilament recycling bins where available at fishing access points
Report injured pelicans to local wildlife rehabilitators immediately
Support coastal cleanup events that remove discarded fishing gear from beaches
Advocate for monofilament recycling programs at all public fishing access sites