Pelican stuck in RI during government shutdown to head back down south

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

SAUNDERSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) – A pelican who got himself stuck in Rhode Island during the government shutdown, is getting ready to say goodbye to the Ocean State.

The Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island in Saunderstown took in the pelican, nicknamed “Bert”, last month.

The clinic said he was spotted hanging out in the Galilee area after flying too far north, and sticking around for the free fish it was getting from local fisherman.

The pelican was suffering from hypothermia and was nursed back to health, but ended up staying in Rhode Island a little longer than expected due to the shutdown.

“You need federal permits to transfer any animals over state lines, and just the receiving facility has to have those federal permits,” Marissa Sprouls, a wildlife rehabilitator at the clinic.

Once the 35-day shutdown ended, they finally got their permits.

“Luckily we were able to work with Pilots and Paws we were able to arrange a flight for him to go down to North Carolina,” said Sprouls.

Bert will be on a plane to North Carolina Sunday morning. The wildlife facility will eventually release the bird back into the wild.

(c) WLNE-TV 2019