Cape Charles, Va. — In a reminder of the interconnectedness between wildlife and human activities, a Brown Pelican recently found itself entangled in fishing nets in the Chesapeake Bay. The bird’s journey, from the moment of rescue to the difficult decision of humane euthanasia, sheds light on the challenges faced by seabirds as they navigate and share the water with us.
The story unfolded when local waterman Scott Wivell discovered the distressed pelican trapped in netting in the Chesapeake Bay. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Wivell transported the bird to ES Animal Hospital before it eventually made its way to the Virginia Wildlife Center in Northern Virginia.
The Wildlife Center, situated in Waynesboro, rarely encounters Brown Pelicans, making this admission a unique event. The pelican, exhausted and injured from its entanglement in fishing nets, underwent a thorough assessment upon arrival. The veterinary team, led by Dr. Emma, observed signs of dehydration, under-conditioning, and multiple lacerations along the pelican’s right leg.
This particular Pelican was banded, and by reporting the band number online, Center staff learned that the bird was banded in 2018 on Smith Island in Maryland when it was still young. The pelican was about six years old on admission and had flown roughly 50 miles from its original home to Virginia.
A significant concern arose during the examination, as the team suspected a dislocation in the bird’s right hip. Dr. Emma, assisted by a clinic volunteer, conducted a delicate eye exam, revealing cloudiness in the pelican’s left eye. Due to the unique respiratory system of pelicans, the team had to slightly open the bird’s mouth for examination.
Further investigations through radiographs confirmed the severity of the pelican’s injuries, indicating a significant hip dislocation and extensive destruction of surrounding soft tissue. Despite attempts to address the dislocation, the lack of repairable damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments led the veterinary team to the heartbreaking decision to humanely euthanize the bird.
This incident underscores the threats faced by seabirds, with entrapment in fishing lines or netting being a common cause of admission to wildlife rehabilitation centers. The Wildlife Center emphasized the importance of responsible disposal of fishing gear and encouraged community efforts in organizing cleanups of beaches, rivers, and other water bodies to mitigate such risks.
Poorly written, biased article. Jumping to the conclusion that the pound net caused the injury vs. the greater likelihood that the band became entangled causing the bird to hurt itself. Scott Wivell being commended for trying to get help for the poor bird would have been a fitting ending instead to concluding that improperly abandoned fishing gear was somehow relevant to this story.
Editor’s Note: This article is about as fair as it gets. Let’s review the facts: a pelican got caught in Kendell Jenner’s sweater at the Golden Globes…no, wait, got trapped in fishing gear (pound net). Mr. Wivell was commended for rescuing the bird and getting it help. Believe me, there are folks that have a lot more to say about this interaction than the Mirror did. Was it the tag that got the bird caught? Or was it the net? We do agree that that the last sentence, which is from the Wildlife Center that worked on the bird, probably could have been worded better. We try to be fair and show different perspectives, but that always backfires. Case in point.
How is abandoned fishing gear not relevant to this story? I think the article did a great job of commending Mr. Wivell and reporting on one of the many hazards faced by wildlife.
Having worked with the Wildlife Center on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of a banded juvenile eagle earlier this year, I have nothing but respect for the work they do for wildlife of all types. Their staff is amazing and works hard to make good decisions for the animals. They are connected to a worldwide network of wildlife rehab folks and have had positive impacts on environmental policy as well as wildlife protection for 4 decades. They are always in need of funding to continue their work so please think of them when deciding on your charitable giving.