WASHINGTON – After nearly 40 years of struggling for survival, the brown pelican is coming off the endangered species list.
The bird – now prevalent across Florida, the Gulf and Pacific coasts and the Caribbean – was declared an endangered species in 1970, after its population was devastated by the use of the pesticide DDT. The pelican’s recovery is largely due to a 1972 ban on the chemical, coupled with efforts by states and conservation groups to protect its nesting sites and monitor its population.
“After being hunted for its feathers, facing devastating effects from the pesticide DDT and suffering from widespread habitat loss, the pelican has made a remarkable recovery,” Tom Strickland, assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the Interior Department, said in a statement Wednesday.
“We once again see healthy flocks of pelicans in the air over our shores.”
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