By The Numbers
Admissions since March 2025: 273
Southern California: 178
Northern California: 95
Releases: 163
Updated August 7, 2025 @ 9:00 AM
Response Summary
Starting in late March 2025, Bird Rescue began receiving a surge of Brown Pelicans. The influx began at our Los Angeles Wildlife Center and soon extended to Northern California. The birds coming into care are a mix of fledglings struggling to find food and adult pelicans affected by domoic acid poisoning, a neurotoxin increasingly impacting seabirds in Southern California.
The fledglings from this year recently departed from their colonies offshore. Many are very young birds, not fully grown, and do not seem to understand how to feed themselves.
Our dedicated staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to rehabilitate each bird, providing critical food and medical care. We remain committed to helping birds navigate a rapidly changing world – and we’ll keep the public informed as this situation evolves.
What the Public Can Do
