Photo: Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas
Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas has been taking in ill or injured juvenile brown pelicans and other water birds after last week’s extreme weather when temperatures reached below freezing. Injuries include mild frostbite, emaciation and parasites. When pelicans have to dive deeper into frigid waters during the winter months when food is scarce, it can cause frostbite. Currently, several pelicans are on antibiotics and eating anchovies as well as smelt while others are receiving pain medication and tube feedings due to injuries sustained in the wild.
The Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas is one of the nation’s largest wildlife rehabilitation centers. They care for more than 12,000 ill, orphaned and injured wild animals annually.
Officials say residents should continue to keep an eye out for native wildlife that may be ill, injured or orphaned due to the freezing temperatures last week and bring them to the Wildlife Center as soon as possible. More information on what to do with injured wildlife can be found HoustonSPCA.org.