SANIBEL, Fla. – A Sanibel vetrinarian recently took on a unique challenge at a local veterinary clinic. Dr. Comolli recently took on an unusual task at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) by reaching down a pelican’s throat to remove hooks.
The pelicans had swallowed hooks, and vetrinarians opted for a less invasive approach by manually removing them while the birds were sedated.
According to a post on CROW’s Facebook page, Dr. Comolli successfully removed five hooks and some fishing line from a pelican’s stomach. The pelican was sedated, and Dr. Comolli used a lubricated glove to carefully retrieve the items.
The team at CROW ensures top-notch care for their patients, and the pelicans were unharmed by the procedure. Pelicans naturally swallow large fish, so there was no risk of injury from Dr. Comolli’s small hand.