Injured pelican rescued (FLA)

[Donna]

A brown pelican might see the new year thanks to the kindness of two local women.

Natalie Cribb of Mandarin and AnnMarie Semmig of St. Augustine were driving along Crescent Beach on Sunday evening when they spotted a struggling pelican about 25 feet from the shore.

In less than a minute, the two were waist-deep in the cold Atlantic water, trying to get the uncooperative bird to safety.

"We saw he was hurt," Semmig said, clutching the bird as she sat in the passenger seat of the Grand Cherokee they drove to the parking lot of The St. Augustine Record looking for help. "We got behind him. He didn't have the strength to get away from us and we got him to shore."

Despite the bird's weakened condition, getting him from the water to the vehicle was not easy. Semmig said she let the pelican bite her left arm as the women dragged him to safety.

"He was hobbling and shivering," Cribb said.

The two friends had not seen each other in months and decided to go for a leisurely sundown drive after dinner.

"I think it was meant for us to find that bird," Cribb said. "We both just dove in the water at the same time."

By the time the three reached the Record, the right leg of Cribb's sodden jeans was littered with phone numbers, the result of one agency after another referring her to someone who might care for the pelican.

After about an hour of the bird flapping occasionally in a cardboard box and after about a dozen phone calls trying to get help for the pelican, Semmig made plans to board the pelican at her house and take him to a local veterinarian in the morning.

Semmig is no stranger to helping birds and beasts. After Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead, she found foster barns for more than 100 horses. She also has the rescue of songbirds and a bald eagle to her credit.

"We both love animals," Cribb said. "There was no way we were leaving this bird out there to die."