They couldn’t believe it 😮
🐦 Highway Surprise: Officer Rescues Lost Pelican 70 Miles From the Coast
When Animal Services Officer Troy Lombas got a call from California Highway Patrol about a pelican with a broken wing stranded near I-5, his first thought was: “A pelican? This far inland?”
Used to rescuing cats and dogs, not massive seabirds, Lombas doubted what he’d find. But when he arrived near Coalinga, California — over 70 miles from the ocean — there was no mistaking the large, bewildered bird in front of him.
“My first thought was, ‘That’s a really big bird,’” Lombas said.
Neither he nor the Highway Patrol officer had ever rescued a pelican before, but they improvised. With quick thinking and teamwork, they blocked traffic and carefully guided the injured bird — who was struggling to move with his damaged wing — into a dog crate.
Even stranger than the rescue was the location. Pelicans are known for their love of ocean breezes, not arid inland highways.
“Finding one so far from the ocean was like spotting a fish out of water,” said Fresno Humane Animal Services.
No one knows exactly why he strayed so far inland — possibly in search of fish in the nearby aqueduct. But thanks to Lombas, he was soon safe at the Fresno Humane facility, where staff even played ocean sounds to help calm their feathered guest.
After his overnight stay, the pelican was transferred to Critter Creek Wildlife Station, where he’s now recovering in expert care until he can be released back to his seaside home.
“This was definitely outside my comfort zone,” Lombas admitted. “But it was worth it.”
From the wrong side of the highway to a second chance at the sea — this pelican’s journey reminds us that compassion has no limits. 🕊️🌊