ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- His nickname is Vilano, and that's the same place an injured pelican calls home. But he will spend the next month at Noah's Ark Wildlife Rescue.
"He had a dropped wing, and it looks like he had a shoulder injury. So we wrapped it," said Karen Lynch.
Witnesses called police to report that a fisherman kicked the bird on the Vilano Beach Pier. They say the man got frustrated when the pelican tried to steal his bait.
"These guys will follow me and try to eat my arm. So pelicans are opportunistic," said Lynch.
Lynch is the President of Noah's Ark. She's been nursing birds like Vilano back to health for 18 years. She knows the birds are stubborn when it comes to fish, but says they shouldn't get hurt because of it.
"It bothers me a lot. I think people should be held accountable," she said.
Many of the pelicans at the rescue are hurt by fishermen. She says it will be at least four weeks before Vilano can fly again. "You have to do what you can do," said Lynch.
Pelicans are protected by the government. That makes it a federal crime to harm one. If you have any information that can help police find that fisherman, call the St. Johns County tip line at 1-888-277-TIPS.
