Search continues for person who slashed Florida Keys pelicans

Monroe County Sheriff's Office releases picture of recent attack

BIG PINE KEY, Fla. – Authorities are continuing to search for whoever slashed the pouches of pelicans in the Florida Keys.

Wildlife officials have been finding dead and injured pelicans since 2013. The birds have suffered cuts to their pouches that interfere with their ability to fish.

Maya Totman, who runs the Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue out of Big Pine Key, has transformed her home into a rehabilitation center.

"Whom do these pelicans have? They have nobody. They cannot help each other," said Totman.

She said her rehab center has an 85 percent success rate for recovery from such injuries, but nursing the animals is more than a full-time job.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office recently released a picture on its Facebook page that sparked intense emotion online.

"On Tuesday, a weary pelican approached a county worker on Crane Boulevard and would not leave his side," the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said on its Facebook page. "The bird was given to Wildlife Rescue for care."

The picture of the most recent pelican attack can be seen here.

If you would like to donate to help Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue, you can visit its webpage.