Patient of the Week: Brown Pelican #25-3928

On October 7, the Wildlife Center admitted a seldom-seen patient—a juvenile Brown Pelican rescued from the dunes along the Hampton coastline. The young bird had been found entangled in discarded netting, unable to free itself. Volunteers from Eastern Virginia Wildlife Rescue were alerted and quickly mounted a rescue.

When the pelican arrived at the Center, it was quiet, weak, and severely underweight. During a physical exam under sedation, the veterinary team found abrasions on both wings, likely caused by the bird’s struggle to escape the netting. More concerning, however, was its level of malnourishment and dehydration—signs that it had likely been trapped for at least several days without access to food or water.

The team immediately began intensive supportive care, including intravenous fluids and slow, careful nutritional support. Malnourished seabirds must be reintroduced to food slowly to avoid a dangerous condition known as “refeeding syndrome,” which can be fatal if not properly managed.

“The pelican was too weak to eat on its own, so we had to hand-feed every meal,” said Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor Alex Olvera. “It’s a delicate process, but after two days, we started to see improvement. The bird became more alert and was able to begin eating on its own.”

By October 12, just five days after admission, the pelican was strong enough to be moved to one of the Center’s outdoor Aviary enclosures. Staff installed a heat lamp to give the bird a warm spot to rest and recover, and are currently providing daily meals of herring and smelt. While the pelican's condition has slightly improved, its prognosis remains guarded.

“Recovery is difficult in cases like this,” Alex explained. “Emaciation takes a serious toll on the body, and there’s always a risk of complications. But we’re doing everything we can to support the bird's recovery.”

Sadly, this situation is not uncommon—seabirds are frequently injured or killed after becoming entangled in improperly discarded fishing gear. This pelican’s case serves as a powerful reminder that small, mindful actions, such as disposing of fishing line and netting properly, can have a lasting impact on protecting Virginia’s wild residents and the places they call home.

To learn more about the threat of fishing tackle and what you can do to help, visit the Center's wildlife issues page.