Final Rehabilitated Pelicans Released After Spring Domoic Acid Poisoning

Release of Rehabilitating Pelicans

• 🐦 Brown pelicans, recovering from domoic acid poisoning, were released back into the wild at Huntington Beach.
• 🏥 Wildlife centers, including the Wetlands and Wildlife Center, cared for numerous pelicans affected by this event.

Cause of Poisoning

• 🌊 The birds fell ill due to a natural toxin that accumulated to dangerous levels in the ocean.
• 🧪 This toxin originates from algae offshore, which produces a compound called M-CAS.
• 🧠 When this compound, also referred to as TMAO gas, accumulates in high concentrations within a bird, it can cause strange neurological behaviors.

Final Survivors

• 🎗️ The pelicans released today represent the final survivors rehabilitated from this specific poisoning event.
• ✈️ While some birds flew off immediately, others appeared momentarily confused before eventually taking flight.