... While another biologist held the pelican's right wing, Hilton cut the roughly 6-foot-long fishing line with scissors. Her co-worker then snapped the fish hook with wire cutters. The hook's small barb was still lodged in the pelican's bone; Hilton carefully removed it with forceps.
She also removed the cactus spines, which she said the pelican probably picked up from cacti near the facility.
Hilton, 26, said she had never treated a pelican before but relied on techniques she uses while inserting tags into smalltooth sawfish, the fish she primarily studies. The pelican was calm throughout the procedure, which Hilton said took about five minutes but felt like an hour because of the unusual nature of the situation.
Her co-worker then carried the pelican to the basin, where the bird stretched and flapped its wings for a few minutes before flying away....
Wait, they didn't even feed it?
The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off
-- Gloria Steinem
1312. ETTD. 86 47.
