International Bird Rescue in California has taken care of many birds in need over the years, but pelicans are their biggest cause of concern right now. Over 100 starving pelicans are being treated in two California wildlife centers, and many of them are dealing with major injuries.
Rescue centers in San Pedro and the San Francisco Bay area have opened their doors to over 110 injured and starving pelicans in recent weeks. 40% of them have arrived at the center with significant injuries, often entangled in fishing lines and hooks.
According to Dr. Rebecca Duerr, IBR’s Director of Research and Veterinary Science, the birds are coming in cold, emaciated, and anemic, but they’re not showing signs of serious disease.
“Diagnostic testing has not revealed any evidence of diseases such as bird flu that may be causing these strandings. Bird Rescue’s staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to provide the affected birds with the best care they desperately need to recover and return to the wild,” reads IBR’s press release.
IBR hasn’t seen such a large number of pelicans at their rescue centers in over a decade, and they’re in desperate need of donations. Their priority right now is to feed them because many of them have lost half of their body weight, but it remains a mystery why they’re struggling to find the fish they need to survive in the wild.
