In early November, a pelican in Iowa found herself in serious trouble beneath a pedestrian bridge along the Des Moines River. Likely pausing to rest after searching for food, she settled onto a pile of debris — only for her lower body to become hopelessly stuck in thick, muddy sludge.
The more she flapped and struggled, the more exhausted she became. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t free herself.
People crossing the bridge noticed the bird’s distress and began calling Iowa Bird Rehabilitation (IBR).
“We received several calls throughout the day,” IBR founder and director Jenni Boonjakuakul told The Dodo. “We always ask for photos so we can confirm it’s the same bird — and it was.”
Images showed the same pelican trapped in the muck, unable to move.
While Boonjakuakul hadn’t seen a pelican stuck this way before, she wasn’t entirely surprised.
“When river levels drop this time of year, ‘log and trash jams’ form,” she explained. “Unfortunately, they can be very dangerous for wildlife.”
IBR quickly contacted one of their most experienced volunteers — a kayaker named Rickie, who asked that her last name not be used.
“I’ve been kayaking recreationally for about 10 years,” Rickie said. “After I started volunteering, I bought a hard-shell kayak so I wouldn’t risk punctures from debris or birds.”
Rickie had already helped rescue geese, ducks, and swans, but this was her first pelican call. When she received the alert around 4:30 p.m., she paddled out to the bridge to meet another volunteer.
“We didn’t know if she could still fly,” Rickie said. “I didn’t want to rush her and scare her — but I also couldn’t go too slow and lose my chance.”
As Rickie approached with her net, the pelican tried to escape, revealing just how badly injured she was.
“That’s when it became clear how serious the situation was,” Rickie said.
According to Boonjakuakul, birds rescued from situations like this are often completely spent by the time help arrives. She believes the pelican may have been trapped since the night before or early that morning.
Once at IBR’s clinic, veterinarians made a heartbreaking discovery: both of the pelican’s legs were fractured. Weak and frightened, she initially refused to eat, so staff carefully hand-fed her to make sure she received enough nutrition.
They fitted her with splints, provided a small wheelchair — and gave her a fitting new name: Shrimp.
After two difficult days, Shrimp began to turn a corner.
“She relaxed, started trusting us, and then began eating fish on her own,” Boonjakuakul said. “That’s always a huge milestone — it means the bird finally feels safe.”
As her strength returned, so did her personality.
“She’s sweet and calm, but she’ll snap if you get too close,” Boonjakuakul said. “Her bright brown eyes follow us everywhere. She’s very alert and curious.”
While Shrimp still has a long road ahead, her care team is optimistic she’ll walk again once her legs heal.
“We don’t mind the feistiness,” Boonjakuakul said. “It’s a good sign. It means she’s getting stronger — and that’s exactly what we hope for.”
Those interested in supporting Iowa Bird Rehabilitation can donate through their website to help animals like Shrimp get a second chance.
