Hooks Cause Illness In American White Pelican

The following story was shared with us by the Wildlife Care Clinic at Iowa State University.

An American white pelican was brought to our facilities when it was found by a local DNR officer. The pelican was found on the side of a dirt road with a hook in the underside of its right wing.

On admit we located another hook in its pouch. The hooks on the underside of the wing held the wing to the side of the body preventing flight and limiting mobility. The pelican also had a severe infestation of chewing lice and roundworms. This resulted in the pelican being underweight.

During the first week at our clinic the pelican refused to self-feed, so we tube-fed using EmerAid Intensive Care Piscivore. While the pelican was in our care it was treated for the chewing lice and roundworms. The pelican was released on November after the wounds from the hooks had healed.