Two Pelicans Escape Pittsburgh Zoo, One Is Fished Out of the Allegheny River; Both Back Unhurt

As of 11:32 a.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026

Two brown pelicans spent Saturday, Oct. 17, outside their habitat at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, and at least one ended up in the Allegheny River. By late afternoon both were back at the zoo with no injuries, according to zoo statements reported by WPXI, CBS Pittsburgh and WTAE.

The zoo confirmed to WPXI around 11 a.m. ET that it was "aware that two pelicans are currently outside of their habitat" and that its animal care team was "actively working on their safe return". A WPXI photographer filmed crews searching the river between the Highland Park Bridge and the 62nd Street Bridge.

At 4 p.m., the zoo said the male, Joey, had been safely rescued from the Allegheny River near Sharpsburg, WPXI reported. The female, Felicity, was recovered at about 4:46 p.m.. CBS Pittsburgh reported that it was not immediately clear where Felicity was found, or how the birds got out.

"Zoo staff are overjoyed and relieved that the birds are healthy, and deeply grateful for the community's support during this event," a zoo spokesperson said in a statement quoted by CBS Pittsburgh.

A community search

The zoo set up a hotline for sightings and received more than a dozen calls from the public, according to the zoo's statement as reported by CBS Pittsburgh and WTAE. "Public support was vital to the recovery effort," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said boats from Pittsburgh River Rescue and Three Rivers Waterkeeper, along with help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Aviary, let "two Zoo teams" track both birds "until they could be safely approached and recovered".

Neither bird was hurt. Both will be monitored by the zoo's health team and get a health check before going back into their habitat.

Rescued birds with wing injuries

Joey and Felicity came to Pittsburgh in July 2025 from a Florida seabird sanctuary, together with a third pelican, Pierre. They share a habitat with the zoo's Humboldt penguins. According to the zoo, the pelicans have permanent wing injuries and cannot hunt. WPXI reported that the sanctuary had said in July 2025 that the birds could not be released into the wild because of wing injuries from fishing tackle.