Young pelican rescued from fishing line on Longboat Key

When a brown pelican was spotted and unable to fly, a team of helpers sprang to action. 

Save Our Seabirds heard about a juvenile pelican that could not fly, and called for the help of locals, including Leo Kissling. Kissling and other residents tracked the bird to the south end of the island. 

On the south end, the Resort at Longboat Key Club provided a kayak for the rescuers to paddle out and grab the pelican. 

The pelican was dragging 348 feet of monofilament line. One of its wings was snagged by a hook and the line was wrapped around its leg and wings. 

Courtesy image

Members of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron met Kissling and the other volunteers near New Pass and transported the pelican to Save Our Seabirds. 

The hook was removed, wound cleaned and the bird was given antibiotics. Left with a sore wing, the pelican will recover at Save Our Seabirds until it’s able to be released.

If someone hooks a pelican while fishing, best practices are to reel the bird in slowly and try to remove the hook safely, according to the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.