Injured Pelican Knocks On NOAA Lab Door For Help
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It was a typical Tuesday at NOAA’s Panama City Laboratory in Florida. Biologists were analyzing shark data and studying fish populations when they heard a strange tapping sound. Looking outside, they were surprised to find a wild brown pelican repeatedly pecking at the glass door with its beak.
The bird seemed to be looking for help. One of the researchers opened the door and saw what was wrong. The pelican was entangled in a heavy-duty fishing line, with a barbed hook deeply embedded in its right wing. To make matters worse, cactus spines were stuck in its left foot.
"I always kind of thought in my head — and liked to think that — animals would know to either come to me for help or to come to the lab for help. But I never thought it would happen," NOAA researcher Annsli Hilton told The Washington Post.
While the NOAA staff was used to working with marine animals, they had never treated a bird before. But they were up for the challenge. Holding the pelican still, they carefully cut the barbed hook and removed it. The team then pulled out several feet of fishing line wrapped around the wing. The bird remained surprisingly calm during the 10-minute procedure. Once the fishing gear was removed, the researchers inspected the pelican to make sure it was okay. They then let it go and watched it gracefully fly away.
NOAA shared details of the unusual rescue on September 15, 2026. The researchers suspect the injured pelican walked roughly a quarter-mile from St. Andrew Bay. But they do not know why it chose the NOAA lab for help.
The pelican’s rescue is a reminder of the dangers fishing gear can pose to animals. NOAA urges anglers to recycle used lines. The agency also recommends using barbless hooks, which are much easier to remove if an animal is accidentally caught.
Resources: fisheries.noaa.gov, Washingtonpost.com
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74 Comments
cozyfox9 daysthat pelican is very smart
gero9 daysbirds are getting too smart frfr- mypafopuzuwu9 daysits crazy how smart animals are
felozibowazi9 daysThis is really cool.
13bronxbomber139 dayssmart pelican, like really smart
supercaladouce9 daysWow this is so funny how are animals this smart I'm cracking up.
jyzyvomurysa9 daysthat is nuts it probably saw others doing that so it thought to get help
sophia1110139 daysSmart pelican, and so adorable.
anora9 daysI am glad those animals got the help that they needed otherwise they could have died, humans are a part of the problem but they can also be part of the solution.
thejackguy10 daysWhile I do like pickles, I’m not so interested in them that I get my head stuck in the pickle jar. That raccoon in the video must’ve been reaaaal hungry!🥒🫙(tell me that’s a pickle alright.)
