Ashland Pelican making progress towards recovery

Marge Gibson with the rescued pelican

ANTIGO, Wis. — The Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) posted an update about the Pelican rescued in Ashland.

The large bird was suffering from a gunshot wound that led to lead poisoning of the bird.

It also had some frostbite on its feet due to that prolonged stay and was underweight and malnourished.

After being tube fed for a bit, the bird is now eating on its own.

He has quite a recovery to make still, but he’s making progress.

“What I’d like for him is that, in spring – he’ll be with us until spring – and in spring he can be released when the spring migration goes through and he can go to wherever he needs to be.” said Marge Gibson, Director of the Raptor Education Group.

Unfortunately, incidents like this have been on an uptick.

This is the 7th Pelican to be cared by REGI with a gunshot wound this year, and Gibson says more protected birds in general have been coming in with gunshot wounds recently.

There are also 7 more pelicans in Neenah, WI that are waiting to be rescued with suspected gunshot wounds.

Those birds are in an area difficult to access delaying their rescue.

As these animals aren’t game animals and aren’t hunters attacking livestock or pets, there is no reason to shoot them like this.

Care for these birds is costly, if you’d like to donate you can do so on the Raptor Education Group, Inc. website.