Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we possess and the collective sum of individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but our reputation and success as well.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family and marital status, gender identity, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. Our diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions, transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and equitable diversity that encourages and enforces:

Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees.

Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and employee perspectives.

Work/life balance through work schedules that accommodate employees’ varying needs.

Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Pelican Harbor Seabird Station complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which we operate.

In line with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (PHSS) takes the position that the noise, flashing lights, and debris from fireworks are detrimental to the health of wildlife and, specifically, to nesting birds, which, when startled can flush from their nests, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable to predators, injury, and death.¹ Fireworks also significantly contribute to local pollution, with many studies showing that perchlorate contaminates the groundwater and the surface water, especially in the vicinity of fireworks manufacturing sites and fireworks display sites.²

Silent fireworks or laser light shows may be less harmful alternatives, but lighting elements and debris should be aimed away from and at a distance from any nesting sites.³

References:

1. Ammann, Phil. “Florida FWC: Fireworks and nesting shorebirds don't mix.” Florida Politics, 3 July 2015, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/185875-florida-fwc-fireworks-and-nesting-shorebirds-dont-mix/.

2. Sijimol, MR, and Mohan, M (2014). Environmental impacts of perchlorate with special reference to fireworks – a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186, 7203–7210. Link

3. Philip W. Bateman, Lauren N. Gilson, Penelope Bradshaw. Not just a flash in the pan: short and long term impacts of fireworks on the environment. Pacific Conservation Biology, 2023; DOI: 10.1071/PC22040. Link

In accordance with State law, PHSS does not support the rehabilitation or release of non-native animals. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife regulations for nonnative, conditional, and prohibited species, “It is unlawful for any person to possess, transport or otherwise bring into the state or to release or introduce in the state any freshwater fish, aquatic invertebrate, marine plant, marine animal, or wild animal life that is not native to the state.”¹ Failure to adhere to these laws may result in the loss of our rehabilitation permit. Because of this, and the negative impacts of non-native species on our local environment,² PHSS does not treat any non-native species.

References:

1. “Regulations for Nonnative, Conditional, and Prohibited Species.” Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission, https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/regulations/#:~:text=(379.28%2C%20F.S.),(379.231%2C%20F.S.).

2. Kai. “Up for Discussion - Nonnative Species.” International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, 4 Nov. 2021, https://theiwrc.org/up-for-discussion-nonnative-species/.

Due to the threats they pose to native wildlife, Pelican Harbor Seabird Station does not condone the use of chemical rodenticides or glue traps as methods of pest control.¹ PHSS supports legal regulations of these pest control practices, specifically of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide poisons.²𝄒³ Suggested humane alternatives include live-traps, electric traps, or strong snap-traps as long as the traps are checked daily and the animals are humanely relocated.

References:

1. McIntire, Meghan. “There Is No Such Thing as a Safe Rodenticide.” Friends of Animals, 25 July 2022, https://friendsofanimals.org/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-safe-rodenticide/.

2. Barnett A. Rattner, Rebecca S. Lazarus, John E. Elliott, Richard F. Shore, and Nico van den Brink. “Adverse Outcome Pathway and Risks of Anticoagulant Rodenticides to Predatory Wildlife.” Environmental Science & Technology. 2014 48 (15), 8433-8445. Link

3. Nakayama, Shouta M M et al. “A review: poisoning by anticoagulant rodenticides in non-target animals globally.” The Journal of veterinary medical science vol. 81,2 (2019): 298-313. doi:10.1292/jvms.17-0717. Link

In accordance with federal law, wildlife rehabilitators have the duty to euthanize any bird that “... cannot feed itself, perch upright, or ambulate without inflicting additional injuries to itself where medical and/or rehabilitative care will not reverse such conditions. You must euthanize any bird that is completely blind and any bird that has sustained injuries that would require amputation of a leg, a foot, or a wing at the elbow or above (humero-ulnar joint) rather than performing such surgery.”¹

Many patients who come to a rehabilitation center are in critical condition and would surely have passed if left in the wild. At PHSS, we do everything we can to successfully rehabilitate and release wildlife back into their natural environment. However, as rehabilitators, we have the obligation to put the health, well-being, and comfort of the patient first. Though it is always a difficult decision to euthanize an animal, we stand by the NWRA pillar that states, “A wildlife rehabilitator should strive to provide professional and humane care in all phases of wildlife rehabilitation, protecting the welfare, respecting the wildness, and maintaining the dignity of each animal in life and in death. Releasable animals should be maintained in a wild condition and released as soon as appropriate. Non-releasable animals have a right to euthanasia.” ²

References:

1. “Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.” FWS.gov, 26 Apr. 2020, https://www.fws.gov/law/migratory-bird-treaty-act-1918#:~:text=The%20Migratory%20Bird%20Treaty%20Act%20(MBTA)%20prohibits%20the%20take%20(,U.S.%20Fish%20and%20Wildlife%20Service.

2. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. “Wildlife Rehabilitator's Code of Ethics.” https://www.nwrawildlife.org/page/Code_of_Ethics_Rehab.

As stated in our humane euthanasia policy, our priority at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is always to rehabilitate animals for release into their native habitat. However, there are certain scenarios where a non-releasable animal can be deemed suitable to be kept as a permanent education ambassador.¹ These animals have injuries that would prevent them from surviving on their own in the wild. If these injuries will not result in chronic pain, and the animal exhibits the appropriate temperament, they are considered for our group of animal ambassadors, which have the very important job of helping educate the public about their species and the dangers they face in the wild. These ambassador animals allow for in-depth education of their species for many community members and are invaluable to the work accomplished at PHSS.²𝄒³

References:

1. Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nwrawildlife.org/resource/resmgr/Min_Standards/MinimumStandards3rdEdition.pdf.

2. “How Animal Ambassadors Inspire Sustainability – Sustainably Motivated.” Sustainably Motivated, 9 April 2021, https://sustainablymotivated.com/2021/04/09/how-animal-ambassadors-inspire-sustainability/.

3. Rank, S. J., Roberts, S-J., & Manion, K. (2021). The impact of ambassador animal facilitated programs on visitor curiosity and connections: A mixed-methods study. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8(4), 558-575. https://doi.org/10.26451/abc.08.04.08.2021

More than 800 species of birds in the United States are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 which prevents the capture, sale, killing, or transportation of migratory bird species without prior permission from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. This treaty also makes it “illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations."

Violations against the MBTA as well as similar federal and state laws can be punishable by a fine of up to $15,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment, and revocation of permits (if applicable). Some others are punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 (500,000 per organization) and/or up to two years in prison.

Federal Regulations also state:

You must euthanize any bird that cannot feed itself, perch upright, or ambulate without inflicting additional injuries to itself where medical and/or rehabilitative care will not reverse such conditions. You must euthanize any bird that is completely blind, and any bird that has sustained injuries that would require amputation of a leg, a foot, or a wing at the elbow or above (humero-ulnar joint) rather than performing such surgery, unless:

(A) A licensed veterinarian submits a written recommendation that the bird should be kept alive, including an analysis of why the bird is not expected to experience the injuries and/or ailments that typically occur in birds with these injuries and a commitment (from the veterinarian) to provide medical care for the bird for the duration of its life, including complete examinations at least once a year;

(B) A placement is available for the bird with a person or facility authorized to possess it, where it will receive the veterinary care described in paragraph (e)(4)(iii)(A) of this section; and

(C) The issuing office specifically authorizes continued possession, medical treatment, and rehabilitative care of the bird.