Injured pelicans along Skyway fishing pier may be casualty of inexperienced anglersÂ
Cynthia Smoot reports.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It might just be the epidemic within the pandemic. So many people have flocked outdoors to have fun safely, it s having an impact on our wildlife. In the Bay Area, that appears to be the case with sea birds that congregate around fishing piers, especially pelicans.
The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores recently took in a pair of laughing gulls that were entangled in fishing line.
Avian hospital director Melissa Edwards and her assistant manager, Justin Perelli, carefully cut the hook from the bird s neck and unwrapped the line. Unfortunately, all the struggling likely caused the gull to fracture its wing, which Perelli carefully taped to make sure it doesn t get worse.