Red Tide Suspected In SW Florida Seabird Epidemic, Dieoff - News-Press

Marine birds in Southwest Florida are getting sick, and the leading suspect is red tide, even though little or no red tide has been in the area for weeks. Hardest hit have been brown pelicans in Collier County: Since Nov. 1, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has treated 63 brown pelicans.

"We're seeing a huge difference in pelican numbers: Last year in the same time frame, we had 17," said Joanna Fitzgerald Vaught, manager of the wildlife rehab center. "These birds have a hard time standing. There's some complete paralysis. They're flat out. They have no blink response. They're a little thin."

Because no antidote exists for red tide toxin — called brevetoxin — the birds receive supportive care.

"We rehydrate them and feed them," Vaught said. "We start tube feeding them fish mush, then whole fish as they slowly get their strength back." Most of the Conservancy's birds have been getting better in four to five weeks.

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