Pelican Harbor Seabird Station

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, with the goal of releasing healthy individuals back to their natural environments.

View our 2024 Annual Report to see the impact of your support!

Rescue

As our population continues to grow, so do our interactions with wildlife. Over 75% of injuries treated at PHSS are a direct result of human-related activities, including vehicle collisions, hook and line injuries, and window strikes.

While the majority of our patients are birds, we also care for small mammals such as Virginia Opossums and Grey Squirrels. Each year, we treat more than 2,300 wild animals—a number that continues to rise by roughly 10% annually.

Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, community members, and partners, these animals are brought to PHSS for a second chance at life. Some are delivered by finders, others rescued by volunteers. Our intake coordinators often guide finders by phone on how to safely contain and transport injured wildlife. Every step in this process, from the first phone call to the moment the animal reaches our doors, is critical to giving them the best chance at survival.

Rehabilitate

Upon arrival, each animal undergoes an intake exam—a thorough evaluation by our trained rehabilitators to assess its condition and determine the best course of treatment. PHSS is a full-service wildlife hospital, routinely performing advanced care such as fracture repair, trauma response, x-rays, laser therapy, and blood testing.

In 2024 alone, our team performed more than 400 procedures and over 650 x-rays. Thanks to grants and donations, we are able to access state-of-the-art technologies and tools, ensuring our clinic staff can provide the most effective and modern treatments available.

The average cost of care per patient is $622*, covering examinations, treatments, specialized diets, medications, and daily husbandry.(*2024 Cost of Care = Wildlife Clinic Expenses ÷ Number of Patients Released)

Release

PHSS releases over 60% of the patients we treat—a rate considered very good in the wildlife rehabilitation field. Each release is not only a second chance for that animal, but also a way of giving back to nature for the harm caused by human activities. Rehabilitated animals help restore the fragile balance of our urban ecosystem and contribute to the health and genetic diversity of local populations.

These second chances are only possible because of your donations. Every gift you make helps an injured or orphaned animal recover, return to nature, and continue playing its role in preserving South Florida’s unique biodiversity.
There is truly no greater reward than seeing a once-injured wild animal take flight—or its first steps—back into the world where it belongs.

Educate

Education is a core pillar of our mission, especially when it comes to inspiring younger generations to learn about—and protect—the unique wildlife and environment we have here in South Florida. Our educational efforts are dedicated to informing, inspiring, and empowering people with the knowledge and skills to make informed, responsible choices.

By teaching about the wildlife we coexist with and explaining the challenges they face due to human activity, we emphasize that people’s everyday actions have real repercussions on wildlife—and that every day, they have the power to make choices that support conservation.

We collaborate with schools, civic groups, and companies, offer corporate volunteer opportunities, and host educational events at our facility to broaden the reach and impact of our message.

Capital Campaign

While all GMD donations will support our Operating Fund, we're thrilled to share that on November 18, 2024, PHSS broke ground on our new Wildlife Hospital & Education Center on the south bank of the Little River. This once-in-a-lifetime project is made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors - nearly $16M raised so far - and we are still fundraising through naming opportunities and our brick campaign.
Construction is moving quickly, with completion expected by the end of this year and our full team moving in by Q1 2026. The new hospital will feature nine specialized rooms, including an ICU and dedicated bird a mammal nurseries, enabling us to provide even more precise, species-specific care and treat more animals than ever before.
Our expanded Education Center will allow us to deepen our connection with the community, offering interactive learning experiences, program for schools, civic groups and local organizations, plus permanent exhibits and nature paths. This state-of-the-art campus will be a true urban oasis, strengthening both wildlife conservation and community engagement in South Florida.