FAIRHOPE — A family outing at Pelican Point turned into an impromptu rescue when a Fairhope-area resident came across a pelican in distress with a fish hook lodged in its bill.
Dee Dee Robinson said she spotted the bird while she was out with her family and tried to move closer, but the pelican grew agitated and slammed its beak against the ground.
“I didn’t really know what to do except talk to it and keep it calm,” Robinson said.
Help arrives from passing motorists
Two men driving past stopped and told Robinson to keep the bird where it was while they came to help. They said this kind of injury happens fairly often and that they knew how to handle it. Within minutes the hook was out and the pelican was back at the water’s edge, dunking its beak.
The two men left without giving their names.
What they taught her for next time
Before leaving, the men walked Robinson through the technique in case she encountered another hooked bird.
“They told me to hold their wings down and head steady to pull the hook out,” Robinson said. “They didn’t use a knife or anything sharp probably to avoid hurting it more. They said to be aware of the tip of their beaks — that it’s really the only sharp part.”
Hook and fishing-line injuries are a recurring hazard for pelicans and other shorebirds along Mobile Bay, where the birds gather near piers and popular fishing spots. Wildlife officials generally advise people who are not confident handling an injured bird to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator rather than attempt a rescue alone.