Miami Firefighters Free Tangled Pelican in Bay Rescue

A pelican caught in fishing line got a second chance at flight thanks to quick-thinking rescuers in Miami this week.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to Biscayne Bay on January 6 after reports came in about a pelican tangled in a fishing hook and line. Ocean Rescue personnel located the distressed bird and carefully brought it aboard.

Once the pelican was safely on Fire Boat 21, the team got to work removing the hook and line. The delicate operation required steady hands and patience to avoid injuring the already stressed bird.

The rescue took just minutes from start to finish. After the last bit of fishing line was removed, crews checked the pelican for injuries and signs of distress.

Sunny's Take

These kinds of rescues happen more often than you might think. Fishing gear left behind or lost in the water poses a serious threat to marine birds, who can become entangled while diving for fish or simply swimming through their habitat.

What makes this story special is the quick coordination between multiple agencies. When the call came in, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami didn't hesitate to respond, treating the pelican's life as worth saving.

The firefighters who typically respond to human emergencies showed the same level of care and professionalism for their feathered patient. Their training prepared them to handle the situation safely for both the bird and the rescue team.

The pelican showed no signs of injury after the hook was removed. Within moments, it was swimming and then flying away on its own power, heading back to its life in the bay.

This happy ending reminds us that small acts of care ripple outward in ways we can't always measure.