Rescued Pelican Finds New Home at the Zoo

HIS JOURNEY BEGINS
Now named Spoons, he arrived at the Zoo on March 31, but his journey began with the nonprofit Lake Erie Nature & Science Center (The Nature Center) in Ohio. In mid-November 2024, The Nature Center was alerted that there was a lone white pelican on Lake Erie in the Cleveland area. All the other birds in the flock had moved on, so there were concerns about his health. The Nature Center provides wildlife rehabilitation services at no charge and accepts more than 2,000 animals from the public each year.

In early December, a member of the public was able to retrieve Spoons and bring him to The Nature Center for care. Their wildlife specialists noted that he had obvious, severe wing damage that required surgery — making him non-releasable — and was probably able to be caught due to weakness from not eating. The Nature Center also suspected that he had become entangled in fishing line. Shortly after, the Zoo received word through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) network that The Nature Center had a rehab white pelican in need of a forever home. The Zoo reached out, as we had a lone white pelican — resident Scuttle — who would benefit from a companion.

While undergoing routine pre-transfer testing to ensure Spoons was healthy enough to travel here, it was discovered that he also had a fishhook in his throat — further confirmation that the initial injury was probably fishing line-related. After the hook was removed, the teams from The Nature Center and the Zoo met in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Spoons was then driven back to Milwaukee to start his standard quarantine at the Zoo’s Animal Health Center.

AT THE ZOO
While in quarantine, the animal care team performed the necessary surgery, removing the tip of his wing. They also took a blood sample for DNA sex determination, and results confirmed that Spoons was male.

After healing and completing his quarantine, he transferred to his new area, the Zoo’s African Savanna, a mixed-species habitat that the cheetahs overlook. He was soon introduced to resident Scuttle, another American white pelican. Scuttle is another non-releasable, rehabilitated bird that arrived at the Zoo in 2021. Keeping with their “S” theme, the zookeepers decided to name the new resident “Spoons.”

Since meeting, Spoons and Scuttle have become great companions. Spoons was hand-fed at The Nature Center, and his willingness to participate in feedings here seems to have rubbed off on Scuttle! Both pelicans now primarily eat fish that the zookeepers toss to them. This behavior will help the team provide supplements and medication as needed to each individual bird.

Spoons is relatively young and probably close to 3 years old. He has a growing caruncle on his bill, which is a breeding adornment that sexually-mature birds develop early in the season that sheds later in the year.

Stop by and see new resident Spoons — and Scuttle! They can most likely be found in or near the pool in their habitat.

Fast Facts:

• An American white pelican’s bill pouch can hold 3 gallons of water.
• Pelicans never carry food in their pouches. They use them to scoop up food but swallow it before flying off.
• Their wings can span up to 9 feet.