DANA POINT, CA —From south of Dana Point to Huntington Beach, someone is mutilating brown pelicans. Over the weekend, two more dead birds were discovered, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund. A $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in apparent attacks against pelicans, executive director Stephen Wells said.
Thus far, 34 brown pelicans have been found with broken wings since October from San Clemente to Huntington Beach. The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach began treating pelicans with broken wings in late October. Still, there has been “an uptick since March,” executive director Debbie McGuire said last month. In 22 of the cases, the pelicans endured compound fractures, where the bone breaks through the skin, according to McGuire. The injuries leave the pelicans unable to fly and vulnerable to infection.
Most of the wounded pelicans do not survive and the ones that did require surgery and extensive care.
The injured pelicans have been found in Dana Point, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.
“Basically the entire Orange County coast,” McGuire said.
Treating the pelicans can cost at least $5,000 apiece, so the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center is also seeking donations.
Anyone with information was asked to call the state Department of Fish and Wildlife toll-free tip line at 888-334-2258. The public may also text “CALTIP” followed by a space and the message to 8474111 (tip411).
Human Cause In Pelican Mutilations
Capt. Patrick Foy of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement division said last month the Huntington Beach wildlife care center and the International Bird Rescue organization have both concluded that the injuries are consistent with being human-caused.
“Unfortunately, we have no suspects and not many tips,” Foy said. “And essentially no other evidence other than the injured birds themselves and expert opinions from these two organizations that the injuries are human-caused.”
“It’s a very large puzzle to put together,” he said.
Foy said in June that he was still not certain that the birds are the victims of human attackers, noting the difficulty of capturing a pelican just to harm them.
All hope that the reward will encourage someone to step forward to help identify the attackers.
“This infusion of funds added to our initial reward reflects the severity of harm to the pelicans found mutilated in Orange County and mounting pressure to find answers,” Wells said.”We are hopeful that the local community will come forward with information to prevent further harm to these animals.”
How to Help
Donate to the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, which cares for and rehabilitates the injured birds and other area animals.
