Jul 18, 2008

Pelican hooked by fishing line may face euthanization

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Allan Wofchuck is an avid birdwatcher, but one he saw Wednesday in Redwood City broke his heart.

The young pelican was limping in a front yard on Turnsworth Avenue, exhausted from futile efforts to get airborne. The bird was badly wounded by a fishing line, hook and float that somehow had gotten stuck in its back.

Wofchuck stopped and called the Peninsula Humane Society, which dispatched an officer.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I called, and an officer came almost right away."

The pelican was briefly examined at the humane society, but the prognosis wasn't good - the bird probably will have to be euthanized.

Humane society vice president Scott Delucchi said the pelican is severely underweight, has a low body temperature and suffers from bumblefoot, an infection that birds develop in their feet when grounded too long.

Pelicans are in migration now, and it's likely this one became exhausted during flight. It's unclear when the fishing gear became lodged in its back, or how that may have affected its health.

E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.