Brown pelicans recovered from DDT-driven near-extinction through one of conservation's great success stories, but oil spills and marine debris continue to pose welfare threats.
Oiled pelicans experience multiple welfare harms: hypothermia from compromised feather waterproofing, organ damage from ingested oil during preening, and the stress of capture and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation of oiled pelicans is intensive, requiring careful washing, drying, conditioning, and gradual reintroduction to water. Post-release monitoring shows that successfully rehabilitated pelicans can integrate back into wild populations. Prevention of future oil contamination through spill response infrastructure and reduced offshore drilling risk represents the highest-leverage welfare intervention.