Pelican Deaths Exceed 100 in Brevard County

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report that the death toll of brown pelicans in Brevard County from Merritt Island to Melbourne crossed 100. The FWC officials are still investigating the reason for the death of so many of these birds.

"The pelicans are emaciated and have heavy parasite counts, and, to our knowledge, other bird species have not been affected," FWC researcher Dan Wolf said in a press statement.

In order to get hold of a potential cause that triggered the death of the pelicans on such a large scale, the FWC researchers are carefully assessing the specimen and the environment.

The FWC researchers are still awaiting a definite result from the National Wildlife Health Center, where the samples were sent two weeks ago for testing.

Additional samples were sent this week to the National Wildlife Health Center in order to determine whether it was botulism that played a major role in the death of the pelicans.

Botulism is a rare serious illness that is caused by ingesting Clostridium botulinum toxin. It occurs on consuming material that is contaminated with the toxin produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The animals that get affected with this have difficulty in swallowing, progressive weakness, progressive flaccid paralysis and ultimately die.

Type D and C toxins are more commonly found in animals and wild bird botulism cases. Botulism cases in people are generally caused by toxin types A, B, E and rarely F. Birds get this illness when they feed on rotten fish or any other decaying matter. The outbreak is triggered when the water levels are low and fluctuating. Apart from that, the temperature is also warm.

According to Wolf, botulism kills the victims immediately, leaving very little time for them to wither.

Reports from FloridaToday state that at least 15 sick pelicans were seen at the hospital in the past few weeks, out of which two died.

FWC clearly warns not to touch any pelicans, but one can report about any sick or dead bird at MyFWC.com/Bird or call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.