The City of Longmont announced on May 31 that rangers rescued an American White Pelican that “swallowed a fishing lure” and had “fishing line wrapped around its wing and foot” near the inlet at Union Reservoir.
The rangers first attempted to capture the bird on May 24 but were unsuccessful, according to Longmont’s public information officer Rogelio Mares. The rangers coordinated with Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to acquire nets. The pelican was finally captured on May 26. Rangers “used a kayak to corral the pelican and a bass as lure to get within range and cast a net over it.” The bird was then transferred to a dog kennel, then into an animal control vehicle for transport to Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
“The fishing lure and line had trapped the pelican’s beak mostly closed, so we think fatigue and hunger were factors that made the pelican easier to catch after a couple of days,” Mares said.
The rangers who rescued the pelican are Michelle Solomon, Sommer Swasey, and Mackenzie Navarro, according to Mares.
Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center transferred the bird to the Birds of Prey Foundation after it was given an initial evaluation, according to Mysti Tatro, community relations manager at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. “It needed several radiographs, surgery, and a large flight enclosure,” she said. “Luckily, at Birds of Prey Foundation, they have an X-ray machine on site and they have another pelican in their care that the bird can bond with. Also, all of our large waterfowl enclosures are filled with baby ducklings right now. So it was a good fit to have the Birds of Prey Foundation finish up the bird’s rehab.”
The Birds of Prey Foundation had not yet responded to our inquiry about the condition of the pelican before this article was published.
The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America, with a nine-foot wingspan. This type of pelican lives far inland, feeds in shallow lakes, and does not dive from the air for fish, according to the National Audubon Society.
The city reminded visitors to “dispose of waste properly” to avoid the incident being repeated. “Fishing lures and fishing line should be disposed of in available fishing line recycling containers or placed in the trash, not left on the ground where it causes a major risk to wildlife,” the city said. “Leave No Trace principle #6: Respect wildlife — please don't fish right next to pelicans!”
