09/25/2026
On August 14, 2026, an adult male American white pelican arrived at the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana after being found grounded in a ditch near a drained rice and crawfish field.
On examination, he was found to have a significant amount of ectoparasites, primarily pouch mites, as well as an old, healed fracture of the right humerus. The fracture had healed incorrectly, leaving the humerus bent at approximately a 90-degree angle and preventing the wing from functioning normally.
After being stabilized, the pelican remained bright and comfortable while awaiting surgery. During his time in the hospital, he received daily enrichment, including walks outside, and quickly became an interested observer of everything happening around him. He particularly enjoyed watching the veterinary team through his enclosure as they cared for the hospital’s other patients.
Once he was ready for surgery, the old fracture site was carefully re-broken to allow the humerus to be realigned into its proper anatomical position. An intramedullary pin was then placed within the bone to maintain alignment while the fracture heals.
Following surgery, his wing will be maintained in a figure-eight bandage with a body band to hold it in its normal anatomical position. This is especially important during healing because it helps prevent the bone from rotating around the pin and allows the fracture to heal in proper alignment.
With his bone now properly aligned, this pelican has an important road ahead of him as his fracture heals and his wing regains its function. Our team will continue to closely monitor his recovery and provide the supportive care and enrichment he needs along the way. 💜💛
