BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it is investigating after an “abnormal” increase in injuries among pelicans along the Central Florida coast.
On Feb. 26, the Florida Wildlife Hospital posted on Facebook asking for the public to be on the lookout for any injured or deceased pelicans along Central Florida coastal counties.
On Monday, officials at the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Brevard County said the number of injured pelicans has jumped to 47 with similar wing trauma.
According to a report by Florida Today, all but three pelicans had wing injuries so severe that they had to be euthanized.
“We are hopeful that these three will make it back into the wild but time will tell,” said Tracy Frampton, executive director of the the Florida Wildlife Hospital.
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Dr. April Geer, a veterinarian for the Florida Wildlife Hospital, showed News 6 multiple pelicans throughout their 5-acre complex.
“So the injuries that we’ve been seeing coming in have all been very bad fractured wings,” Geer said. “We’re concerned that there is some sort of human involvement and that may or may not be some kind of malicious intent.”
Officials at the wildlife hospital said the injuries are very focused to one area of the pelican’s body and all of the injuries were were very similar.
“This is very focused and is typical of a twist-like break,” Frampton said.
Frampton said it if it were a natural occurrence, such as getting tangled in something or flying into something solid, there would be more trauma in other areas of the body.
While this incident is still under investigation, The Florida Wildlife Hospital is calling on the public to reach out if they see any more affected animals. If you find an injured bird, you can bring it to the Florida Wildlife Hospital located at 4560 N. US Hwy 1 in Palm Shores or call them at 321-254-8843.
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