On our way to the Cedar Key Book Club meeting last Thursday, James and I stumbled upon an injured pelican in the parking lot near the Dock St. bridge. As you can see in the photo above, there is fishing line and a stick wrapped around it’s foot. What you are unable to see is the pelican had a fishing hook that had to be removed in it’s chest area.

We immediately reached out to Maureen at W.R.E.N. (Wildlife and Rehabilitation Education Network, 352-477-0057). While I stayed to keep an eye on the pelican, James went to fetch Maureen and a crate. Working together, we managed to remove a fishing hook and cut away the fishing line tangled around its wing and leg. (Sorry no pictures, my hands were full!) With teamwork, Maureen and James got the pelican into the crate, and Maureen took it to be transported off the island to a bird rescue.

This was a successful bird rescue, as you’ll see in the slideshow below.