Brown Pelicans are dying on the Oregon coast
OREGON COAST - Brown Pelicans are washing up dead along the Oregon coast and those that are surviving are starving and begging for food from beachcombers, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
According to wildlife officials, the pelicans usually head south in large numbers in October. But this winter, a large number of them stayed along the Oregon coast and recent storms and high winds have limited their ability to hunt and dive for food.
Should you feed them?
The answer is NO. The pelicans have a particular diet and despite your good intentions, you may be doing them more harm than good. For example, feeding them the bones and heads of fish can cause damage to their throat pouch and fish bait may be contaminated with harmful bacteria or be treated with chemicals that can make a pelican very ill.
What can you do?
If you come across a Brown Pelican that appears to be starving...
- If the bird is in the area of the coast from Astoria to Yachats, call the Wildlife Center of the North Coast at (503) 338-3954.
- If the bird is in the area of the coast from Florence south to Gold Beach, call Free Flight Bird Rehabilitation at (541) 347-3882.
If you come across a dead Brown Pelican...
- Leave it where you found it. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act it is illegal to possess any part of a migratory bird, dead or alive.
- Contact the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team at (206) 221-6893.