Back to the Wild releases first pelican

HURON — Any time Back to the Wild can rehabilitate an animal and release it, it's a massive victory for all involved — but this past weekend's release was particularly special. Workers representing the nonprofit wildlife center released its first mended pelican on Saturday afternoon at Lake Front Park in Huron. The pelican first came to the Castalia-area rescue site on July 19, and it was in rough shape. "He came in very underweight. He had a fishing line and hooks tangled up on his legs, and the webbing in his toes was very badly damaged," center assistant director Heather Tuttle said. "He couldn't stand up under his own weight. He was having trouble recovering." Huron County wildlife officer Matt Smith rescued the pelican that day. He told Tuttle it was the first time he went swimming for a rescue. "We took him for X-rays, and we found BB shots in his chest muscles," Tuttle said. "At some point, somebody shot him. Luckily, the shot was lead-free. It could have led to lead poisoning for him." Dr. Mark Reineck, of Fremont Animal Hospital, conducted the X-rays and sent the pelican's blood for testing, which came back normal. "This was our first pelican. We get a lot of calls from people thinking they've found pelicans, but, most of the time, it's a case of mistaken identity," Tuttle said. "We're lucky to have wildlife officers that work with us. We couldn't have rescued half the animals we do without them." Reineck said the pelican was a "good patient." "It's nice to see that he can have a second chance. A lot of them don't get that opportunity with injuries," Reineck said. "It's nice to see success. It's all thanks to (Back to the Wild). They care for them, feed them and get them healthy enough that they can get healthier and be released." The pelican was a little picky, however, Tuttle said. He ate three to four times a day. "All he wanted to eat was fresh fish. In the beginning, we actually had to hand toss fish to him," she said. "Thank you to everyone who brought us fish. He would have eaten us out of house and home if we wouldn't have had those donations." The pelican stayed in an enclosure typically used for hawks, but he made himself at home. "He was walking, putting weight on his feet more," Tuttle said. "We have these really high perches in there, and we were super shocked when we walked in, and he was up on the highest one. We were pretty impressed." Tuttle said everyone was happy to see the pelican go back into its natural habitat. A bio on Back to the Wild Founded in 1990, the center, through a medically approved rehabilitation process, returns injured and sick animals into their natural habitats. The nonprofit relies entirely on donations. Tuttle said the center has already surpassed last year's intakes by 200. "Doing these rehabs for these animals can get super expensive and feeding them can be very expensive. All the donations that people have made, food and money, have made a huge difference, not just for the pelican," she said. "It's great to have a community that cares about what we do. We always say, without you, there is no us for them, and it's certainly true." Each year, almost two-third going back into nature — a high rate compared to national standards. When animals don't go back to their environments, they're either too sick or die during rehab. Some creatures the nonprofit care for include a host of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. To volunteer, or for more information, visit facebook.com/backtothewildohio and join the "BTTW Garden Volunteers Group." Donations can be made to Back to the Wild by: • Mailing a check or money order to Back to the Wild, P.O. Box 423; 4504 Bardshar Road; Castalia, OH 44824 • Visiting the website backtothewild.org or Facebook page, facebook.com/BacktothewildOhio