Wildlife advocates concerned for pelicans that get fish carcasses stuck in throats

BRADENTON BEACH -- Edward Straight stood at the end of the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach Monday afternoon, several feet away from a pelican seated peacefully on a railing. Over the past three months, the 76-year-old said he's received between 15 and 20 calls about pelicans with fish carcasses stuck in their throats -- the result of people tossing the filleted fish at the water birds.

What may seem like a generous offering to pelicans can actually threaten their lives, according to Straight, who along with wife Gail Straight operates Wildlife Inc., a nonprofit education and rehabilitation center.

"It's been a concern for a number of years, quite frankly," Straight said as he stood near his grandson, Devon Straight. "In some areas, we were able to get signs in the past put up saying 'Do not feed the carcasses to the pelicans' like at the boat ramp over in Palmetto... recently it seems to be getting worse."

Lack of knowledge is to blame for the incidents, according to Straight. In addition to his work for Wildlife Inc., Straight is also the Bra

denton Beach Vice Mayor.

"I think the great weather and more people down here," he said added to the increase in incidents. "There's a lot more people here this year than normal."

On the Historic Bridge Street Pier are several fish cleaning stations for anglers to use with pipes attached to dispose of fish carcasses. A sign below each reads "Protecting Our Pelicans" and "Responsible fishing helps save lives." One illustration shows a pelican on its back with a fish carcass stuck in its throat. "Do not feed scraps," the message above the illustration reads.

Straight and his team of wildlife experts are working to place these fish carcass disposal pipes in as many places as they can throughout Manatee County.

"And making sure there's also some kind of trash cans provided next to the cleaning stations because most of the people that do it don't realize what they're doing," he added. "So education is one of our most important things."

Devon advised the public to leave the wildlife alone.

"They're better off without intervention," the 17-year-old said. "Don't feed them."

Jeanette Edwards, a friend of Straight and his wife, Gail, is also concerned about the safety of pelicans. The Perico Island resident's worry pushed her to send a May 2 email to Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore about the need for fish carcass disposal tubes at the Kingfish Boat Ramp, 752 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach.

"It's a terrible death," she said of pelicans that get carcasses stuck in their throats. "They either get septic poisoning or they starve to death because they can't get any food down."

The 55-year-old Edwards said she has rescued over 30 pelicans tangled in fishing line since 2011. She hopes to rally enough support to bring about the installation of the pipes at the Kingfish Boat Ramp.

Back at the pier, Lee Hamilton leaned against the railing with a fishing pole. The 34-year-old Bradenton resident said he comes to the pier sometimes on his days off. Hamilton said he wasn't aware of the problem of pelicans getting fish carcasses stuck in their throats -- he usually shoos them away.

"They shouldn't feed them," he said. "Let them hunt on their own."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Wildlife advocates concerned for pelicans that get fish carcasses stuck in throats ."