Large groups of sick, dying pelicans are appearing in Southern California as wildlife officials remain concerned over the continuing mystery.

Since April 28, over 100 sickened pelicans have been discovered at Newport Beach in Orange County and only around half of those birds later survived. On Tuesday, May 5, dozens more showed up at the Newport Beach pier and were taken to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

Around 80 brown pelicans began showing up on April 2, with most of them flying in from Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Within the first two hours of arrival, 51 pelicans had died.

“They are coming in emaciated, and hypothermic,” rescue workers said. “Initial lab work is confirming they are in starvation mode. A large percentage are coming in with fishing gear entanglement.”

KTLA's Chip Yost reports on May 7, 2024.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/wild...

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