Western Grebe Rescued as Seabirds in Distress Are Found Along the Southern California Coast
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew responded to a stranded Western Grebe and transported the bird for emergency care as distressed and deceased grebes are found along the Southern California coast.
Western Grebe in distress at La Jolla Cove, September 2026. Photo courtesy of submitted wildlife report.
Seabird Alert: Western Grebes in Distress Along the Southern California Coast
Wildlife Jewels is asking beachgoers to be on the lookout for Western Grebes in distress along the Southern California coast.
Over the past two weeks, our team has encountered several distressed and deceased grebes along the coast. Western Grebes are highly adapted to life on the water and rarely come onto land. A grebe sitting or lying on the beach is likely in serious distress and needs help as soon as possible.
A Western Grebe Rescue at La Jolla Cove
Wildlife Jewels’ Rescue Crew recently received a report of a Western Grebe stranded at La Jolla Cove and immediately responded, transporting the bird for emergency wildlife care.
Reports like this are especially important because stranded seabirds may already be severely weakened by the time they reach shore. Birds affected by starvation may appear lethargic, unusually still, weak, thin, or unable to return to the water.
Western Grebes Belong on the Water
Western Grebes are striking aquatic birds adapted for life on the water. During a Wildlife Jewels EYES® monitoring survey at San Elijo Lagoon in April 2026, we photographed a Western Grebe swimming on the water and behaving normally.
The contrast is important: seeing a grebe swimming on the water is expected, while finding one stranded on a beach is an important warning sign.
Western Grebe at San Elijo Lagoon during a Wildlife Jewels EYES® survey, April 2026. © Wildlife Jewels® by Azi Sharif
What to Do if You Find a Grebe on the Beach
If you encounter a Western Grebe or other seabird stranded or in distress:
Report the bird immediately.
Keep people and dogs a safe distance away.
If safe, remain nearby and keep the bird in sight until a wildlife responder arrives.
Do not chase, handle, feed, or attempt to return the bird to the water.
Early detection and response can make a critical difference.
Report Wildlife in Distress
Wildlife Jewels monitors reports of injured, distressed, entangled, and deceased wildlife along the Orange County and San Diego County coastlines and coordinates response within the scope of our wildlife rescue programs.
Report Wildlife to Wildlife Jewels
Wildlife Jewels® EYES® + Rescue Crew
Monitoring wildlife. Identifying threats. Responding when wildlife needs help.
Learn about Wildlife Jewels EYES and ways you can get involved!
Learn about Wildlife Jewels Rescue and ways you can help!
Meet Opal the Western Gull
Meet Opal, the Western Gull chick, when she was just about a week old. 🤍
We’ve spent countless hours in the field observing and helping protect Opal and her family since she was still an egg. This photograph was taken in June 2026. 💜
Watching Opal grow from a tiny chick into the beautiful fledgling she is today has been incredibly special—and a reminder of why every effort to protect vulnerable wildlife matters.
Opal is now one of the precious wild lives featured in our Jewels of La Jolla educational art collection, celebrating the remarkable wildlife that makes this coastline so magical. ✨
Image: Opal, Western Gull chick, June 2026, La Jolla, CA. © Wildlife Jewels® | Photo by Azi Sharif
Wildlife Jewels’ World Ocean Day Wildlife Walk, La Jolla
Observed during our EYES™ Field Day with SDSU MEBSA students: a Western Gull with a concerning beak injury—highlighting the importance of careful observation and reporting.
👀 Join EYES™ (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life)
Become part of our coastal wildlife monitoring community—learn what to look for, how to observe responsibly, and how to report concerns to help keep birds and other coastal wildlife safe.
Learn more at about ways you can protect coastal wildlife at the Wildlife Jewels Resources Page
🛟 Join the Wildlife Jewel Rescue Crew (observation & reporting only)
Help support local wildlife rescue response by assisting with reporting, coordination, and (for trained, permitted volunteers only, transport support when a bird needs help.)
✨ Together, we can turn wildlife observation into action and help protect the magical Jewels that make our coastline so special.
EYES Community BIRD WALK, National Bird Day JANUARY 2026
Some of the magical Bird Jewels we had the delight of observing included Brandt’s cormorants with their striking turquoise eyes, the adult California brown pelican with sky-blue eyes and a vibrant red throat pouch, and the majestic Black Oystercatcher with its bold orange bill and eye-ring. We also enjoyed the intelligent, charismatic Western gull, the precious Heermann’s gulls, and the elegance of Royal and Elegant terns, crowned with their distinctive head crests.
Photo credit: © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif
We identified an injured Heermann’s gull, documented what we observed, and reported—reminding us that careful monitoring and timely reporting can help save lives. Every wildlife life is precious. 💙 We will share more about her and the other injured wildlife including 2 entangled sea lions that we spotted during our walk through the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Blog soon.
Wildlife Jewels EYES: Blog Updates
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Blog Updates
La Jolla’s Seabird Entanglement Crisis Continues
Wildlife Jewels continues to document seabird entanglements in La Jolla, particularly at Point La Jolla, as birds face fishing gear and other pressures.
La Jolla’s Seabird Entanglement Crisis Continues
In August, the San Diego Union Tribune and The La Jolla Light highlighted the devastating rise in seabird entanglements Wildlife Jewels has been documenting along the La Jolla coastline.
More than a month later, the entanglements persist.
Wildlife Jewels searches Point La Jolla near daily for entangled and distressed seabirds. When an entangled bird cannot be safely reached for rescue, we continue returning to search for and track the bird, documenting its location and condition in the hope that the bird moves to an area where a safe rescue becomes possible.
Fishing line, hooks and other fishing gear can leave birds injured, restrict their ability to fly, swim or feed, and in severe cases threaten their survival.
Many of the birds we observe are also in locations where they cannot be safely reached for rescue.
Seabirds Already Under Pressure
The continued entanglements are especially devastating at a time when our seabirds are already facing significant pressures this year, including widespread starvation and mortality events.
Every additional injury caused by fishing gear adds another threat for birds already confronting difficult environmental conditions.
From Monitoring to Rescue
Through our EYES® coastal monitoring and Rescue Crew, Wildlife Jewels searches for wildlife in distress, documents threats and responds when a bird can be safely reached.
Our Rescue Crew rescues birds we can safely access and transports them to permitted wildlife rehabilitation partners for professional care.
For birds that cannot be reached, documentation remains important. By recording where and when entanglements occur, the species involved, circumstances surrounding the cases and other field observations, we can build a clearer picture of the scale and patterns of seabird entanglement along the La Jolla coastline.
The Need for Collaborative Solutions
Rescue can help an individual bird, but rescue alone cannot address the conditions causing birds to become entangled.
We urgently need collaborative solutions to better protect La Jolla’s seabirds.
Wildlife Jewels will continue monitoring the coastline, documenting entanglement cases, responding to wildlife in distress when possible, and sharing observations that can help inform conversations about prevention and protection.
The goal is not only to respond after a bird becomes entangled, but to better understand what is happening and help identify effective ways to reduce these preventable injuries.
Read the La Jolla Light Coverage
The La Jolla Light reported on Wildlife Jewels' documentation of the seabird entanglement problem in August 2026.
Read the full La Jolla Light story:
Seabird entanglements on the rise in La Jolla, bird advocate says
See an Injured or Entangled Bird?
If you see an injured or entangled bird, please report it as soon as possible and continue to keep the bird in sight if you can do so safely.
Report wildlife: HERE
Your report can help responders locate the animal before it moves or disappears from view.
Every bird matters. 💙
Support our Rescue Crew HERE
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew found and responded to a Brandt’s Cormorant in distress during a Search Scout survey in La Jolla, helping the bird reach emergency veterinary care.
Help Wildlife in Distress
Wildlife Jewels works along the Southern California coast to search for and identify wildlife in distress, document human-caused threats, respond to wildlife emergencies within the scope of our Rescue Program, and transport rescued birds to licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities for professional care.
Your support helps provide rescue equipment, field supplies, transportation, and other resources needed for this work.
Wildlife Jewels In The News
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Cormorant Rescued at Point La Jolla by Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescues a distressed cormorant from below the wall at Point La Jolla and transports the bird for emergency wildlife veterinary care.
Distressed Brandt’s Cormorant rescued by the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew, Point La Jolla, CA September 26, 2026
© Wildlife Jewels/ Azi Sharif
From Search to Rescue: A Second Chance 💙
RESCUED ❤️🩹
Yesterday, Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew was at Point La Jolla monitoring a previously located entangled cormorant and waiting to see if he moved into a position where he could be safely reached for rescue. While we were there, we were alerted to another cormorant nearby who was in distress.
He was extremely lethargic, had a noticeably drooping wing, and was approximately five feet below the wall in a difficult-to-reach location. We had recently added a new rescue net to our equipment specifically for challenging, hard-to-reach rescues like this one. Using the net, we were able to reach and contain him from over the wall and immediately transfer him into a secure carrier for transport to emergency wildlife veterinary care.
We’re wishing this precious bird a full recovery. ❤️
It has been a devastating year for California’s seabirds. Earlier this year, CDFW identified starvation as the primary cause of increased seabird mortality, with nearly all of the birds examined being young and emaciated. Brandt’s Cormorants, Common Murres, and Brown Pelicans have been among the species affected.
Our field observations are beginning to show another concerning increase in distressed and deceased cormorants along our coastline. We’re continuing to monitor closely, search for birds in distress, and respond when they need help.
Having the right rescue equipment made this response possible. 💚
As our Rescue Crew grows, your support helps us obtain rescue nets, carriers, protective equipment, and other essential supplies so we can be ready when wildlife needs us.
Please consider supporting Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew and helping us equip our growing team to give more birds in distress a chance. ❤️🩹
Support our Rescue Crew HERE
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew found and responded to a Brandt’s Cormorant in distress during a Search Scout survey in La Jolla, helping the bird reach emergency veterinary care.
Help Wildlife in Distress
Wildlife Jewels works along the Southern California coast to search for and identify wildlife in distress, document human-caused threats, respond to wildlife emergencies within the scope of our Rescue Program, and transport rescued birds to licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities for professional care.
Your support helps provide rescue equipment, field supplies, transportation, and other resources needed for this work.
Wildlife Jewels In The News
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Another Western Gull Fledgling Entangled in Fishing Gear in La Jolla
💔 We’re devastated to see another Western Gull fledgling entangled in fishing gear in La Jolla. On August 10, we documented Beryl, a young Western Gull entangled in fishing line and a large lure. Despite days of searching, we were unable to find her again
Photo: JoAnn Smith, Point La Jolla September 24, 2026
Another Western Gull Fledgling Entangled in Fishing Gear in La Jolla
💔 We’re devastated to see another Western Gull fledgling entangled in fishing gear in La Jolla.
On August 17, we documented Beryl, a young Western Gull entangled in fishing line and a large lure. Despite days of searching, we were unable to find her again.
Now, another fledgling has been found with a large fishing lure and three hooks.
This is another heartbreaking example of the danger fishing gear poses to our coastal wildlife—and part of the alarming rise in seabird entanglements Wildlife Jewels has been documenting in La Jolla.
🚨 If you see this gull, please report her immediately and keep her in sight from a safe distance.
Every second matters. Please help us find her. 💔
Submit a report to Wildlife Jewels Rescue at wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife.
She has only just begun her life. We need to find her before this deadly fishing gear takes that chance away.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Beryl the Gull entangled August 17, 2026
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
From Search to Rescue: Pelagic Cormorant Gets a Second Chance in La Jolla
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew found and responded to a Pelagic Cormorant in distress during a Search Scout survey in La Jolla, helping the bird reach emergency veterinary care.
Distressed Pelagic Cormorant rescued by the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew, La Jolla CA September 23, 2026
From Search to Rescue: A Second Chance 💙
A precious Pelagic Cormorant in distress was rescued in La Jolla yesterday. 💜💎
Our Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew was actively searching the coastline for injured and distressed wildlife when our Search Scout found this cormorant in need.
Our Rescue Crew immediately responded. The bird was closely monitored and guarded near the water’s edge while rescue was carried out, then safely contained and transported for emergency veterinary care.
This is why we search. Wildlife in distress can easily go unnoticed, and finding an animal in need at the right time can mean the difference between being left without help and getting a second chance.
We’re so grateful we found this precious cormorant and helped get her safely to care. 💙
When wildlife is injured or in distress, every second can matter.
Our Rescue Crew continues searching La Jolla and other coastal areas for injured, entangled, and distressed wildlife—because every animal found is an opportunity to help.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew found and responded to a Pelagic Cormorant in distress during a Search Scout survey in La Jolla, helping the bird reach emergency veterinary care.
Help Wildlife in Distress
Wildlife Jewels works along the Southern California coast to search for and identify wildlife in distress, document human-caused threats, respond to wildlife emergencies within the scope of our Rescue Program, and transport rescued birds to licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities for professional care.
Your support helps provide rescue equipment, field supplies, transportation, and other resources needed for this work.
Wildlife Jewels In The News
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
From Search to Rescue to Release: A Precious Brown Pelican Flies Free
Follow the remarkable rescue of an entangled Brown Pelican at Crystal Cove, from fishing-gear injuries through rehabilitation to his return to the wild.
California Brown Pelican Release by the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, Huntington Beach, CA September 4 2026
From Search to Rescue to Release
Sometimes, being there, paying attention, and knowing what to look for can change everything.
On the evening of July 22, Wildlife Jewels® Founder and Executive Director Azi Sharif arrived at Crystal Cove State Park to conduct a routine Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew Search Scout survey — part of Wildlife Jewels’ EYES Program and its ongoing work to search for wildlife in distress and document threats along the Southern California coast.
Fishing-gear entanglement was especially on Azi’s mind. Wildlife Jewels had been documenting an alarming number of entangled seabirds, including 10 entangled Brandt’s Cormorants during a single survey at Point La Jolla shortly before that evening.
That awareness mattered.
As Azi began the long walk toward the beach, she saw a park staff member and asked whether they had seen any wildlife in distress.
They had.
An entangled Brown Pelican was on the beach.
In an instant, a Search Scout survey became a rescue mission.
A Race Against Time
It was late in the day, with less than an hour until sunset. The beach was a long distance from the parking area, and the pelican was still mobile. If he entered the ocean, he could become unreachable.
Azi immediately ran back to her vehicle, gathered Wildlife Jewels’ rescue equipment and a large pelican transport crate, and hurried back down the long trail carrying everything she would need to reach him.
When she found the pelican, his condition was heartbreaking.
Fishing line was tightly wrapped around his wing and shoulder, and his wing appeared severely injured. But he could still move — and the ocean was only steps away.
Two compassionate beachgoers offered to help. They carefully positioned themselves to discourage the pelican from moving toward the water while Azi approached with the rescue net.
The first attempt missed.
Suddenly, the pelican began running toward the ocean.
Azi ran after him, reached the shoreline, and managed to get the rescue net completely over him before he entered the water.
He was safe.
From the moment Azi began approaching the pelican to the moment he was safely contained took approximately 15 minutes.
After the search, the rush back through the park for equipment, carrying the large transport crate down the trail, locating and safely containing the pelican, and transporting him out of the park as daylight faded, the rescue mission was complete.
But one difficult question remained:
Would he ever fly again?
California Brown Pelican Rescued by Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew July 22, 2026.
From an Uncertain Future to an Extraordinary Recovery
The following morning, Azi transported the pelican to The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center (WWCC), where the professional rehabilitation team took over his care.
Three fishing hooks and tightly wrapped fishing line were removed, and WWCC provided the treatment and rehabilitation needed for his recovery. Thankfully, X-rays showed no fractures, but the pelican had sustained significant soft-tissue and joint injuries to his wing.
His future was uncertain. With an injury that severe, there was no guarantee that he would regain the strength and function necessary to return to the wild.
Then, little by little, something remarkable happened.
He healed.
Left: California Brown Pelican Entangled found and rescued by Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew July 22 2026 at Crystal Cove State Park
Right: California Brown Pelican rehabilitated at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center
Through weeks of dedicated treatment and rehabilitation at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, the pelican regained his strength and progressed until he reached the milestone everyone had hoped for:
He was ready to return to the wild.
And Then, He Flew 🪽
On September 4, Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center released him back to the wild. As his crate opened at the shoreline, he took off.
The pelican whose damaged wing had once made us wonder whether he would ever fly again soared back over the ocean.
And then came an unforgettable sight.
He joined other pelicans flying nearby.
After everything — the entanglement, the race before dark, three fishing hooks, an injured wing, the rescue, and weeks of rehabilitation — this beautiful pelican was once again exactly what he was meant to be:
Wild and free.
His journey was made possible by a chain of people who cared: Wildlife Jewels’ Rescue Crew Search Scout field monitoring, which put trained eyes on the coast looking for wildlife in distress; the park staff member who alerted Azi to the entangled pelican; the beachgoers who stepped in to help; Wildlife Jewels’ rescue and transport response; and the incredible team at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, whose professional treatment and rehabilitation gave him the chance to fly again.
Why We Search
His story is also a powerful reminder of why we search.
Wildlife Jewels’ Rescue Crew Search Scout surveys are about more than documenting what is happening along our coastline. They put trained, aware eyes in the field looking for wildlife in distress and threats that might otherwise go unnoticed.
That evening, awareness led to action.
A search became a rescue.
A rescue became a second chance.
And a second chance became a flight back to freedom.
Sometimes, extraordinary outcomes begin with something as simple as paying attention.
Watch His Journey From Rescue to Release
From entangled in three fishing hooks and tightly wrapped fishing line, with a severely injured wing, to soaring over the ocean again.
Watch this remarkable journey from Wildlife Jewels’ rescue response through professional rehabilitation at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center and, finally, his return to the wild.
Fly free. Wishing you a long, beautiful life in the wild. 💙🪽
Sometimes, miracles really do happen. ✨
Help Wildlife in Distress
Wildlife Jewels works along the Southern California coast to search for and identify wildlife in distress, document human-caused threats, respond to wildlife emergencies within the scope of our Rescue Program, and transport rescued birds to licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities for professional care.
Your support helps provide rescue equipment, field supplies, transportation, and other resources needed for this work.
Wildlife Jewels In The News
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Rescued: Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant Gets a Second Chance in La Jolla
After weeks of documenting entangled seabirds at Point La Jolla, a precious Brandt’s Cormorant finally became reachable. Meet Azurite and follow her journey from fishing gear entanglement to rescue and a second chance.
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant, rescued through a Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew response. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, August 30, 2026.
RESCUED 💙 Meet Azurite.
RESCUED 💙 Meet Azurite.
One of the entangled seabirds Wildlife Jewels has been documenting at Point La Jolla was finally able to receive help.
Azurite, a Brandt’s Cormorant, was struggling with fishing line and a sharp hook affecting her beak. She appears to be one of the entangled cormorants first documented by Wildlife Jewels® at Point La Jolla on July 20 and later featured by the San Diego Union-Tribune and La Jolla Light.
For weeks, she was observed in areas where reaching entangled birds can be extremely difficult.
Then, an opportunity for rescue finally came.
The night before her rescue, a compassionate community reporter photographed Azurite over the wall at Point La Jolla, still entangled and out of reach. The following day, Azurite moved into an accessible area near Point La Jolla, where she was safely contained and transported for rehabilitation. The fishing hook and line were later removed during her care.
The final image shows the actual hook and line removed from Azurite.
Seeing that sharp gear finally off her is a moment of hope — but it also reflects the devastating reality these precious seabirds are facing.
Several more entangled birds, including cormorants, pelicans, and gulls, remain at Point La Jolla, many in areas where rescue access is extremely limited or nearly impossible. We also continue to identify newly entangled birds through ongoing monitoring and community reports.
Azurite was fortunate to move somewhere she could be rescued. Others have not.
Her story is a reminder of why reporting, monitoring, and rapid response matter. When an injured animal can be reached and rescued, that opportunity can mean the difference between continued suffering and a second chance. 💙
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant, rescued through a Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew response. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, August 30, 2026.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant Rescued at La Jolla Cove
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant entangled in fishing gear at La Jolla Cove and transported the bird to wildlife rehabilitation for care.
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant,. Photographed from a distance via zoom. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, Aug 26, 2026.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant entangled in fishing gear at La Jolla Cove.
A precious Brandt’s Cormorant was rescued from fishing gear at La Jolla yesterday. 💙
A compassionate community member reported the entangled bird at La Jolla Cove while Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew was already nearby searching for injured and distressed wildlife along the coastline.
Our Rescue Crew immediately responded. With the tide rising and the cormorant at the water’s edge, every second mattered. The bird was safely contained, rescued, and transported to wildlife rehabilitation for care.
Sadly, this was not the only entangled cormorant documented in La Jolla yesterday.
Stay on site and keep her in sight from a safe distance until a rescuer arrives. Immediately:
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescues an entangled Brandt’s Cormorant at La Jolla Cove on August 26, 2026.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Young Western Gull Entangled in Fishing Gear in La Jolla | Wildlife Jewels
Wildlife Jewels is searching for Beryl, a recently fledged Western Gull in La Jolla with fishing line and a lure wrapped around her beak. Learn how to report a sighting.
Beryl the Western Gull, entangled. Photographed from a distance via zoom. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, Aug 17, 2026.
Young Western Gull Entangled in Fishing Gear in La Jolla | Wildlife Jewels
💔 She is only about two months old.
It was devastating today to find one of the precious Western Gull fledglings documented through Wildlife Jewels’ near-daily EYES monitoring since her parents were nesting, now caught in a nightmare of fishing line and a large lure.
The line is wrapped so tightly around her beak that she cannot properly open it to eat or drink. She can still fly, making rescue especially difficult.
One of her parents stood right beside her, looking directly at her as she struggled. It was heartbreaking to witness.
This is what discarded fishing line, hooks, and lures can do to wildlife. In La Jolla, young gulls are fledging, resting, and learning to forage in the same coastal areas where fishing activity continues to put them at risk. Lost and discarded gear can turn these essential coastal habitats into deadly hazards.
Now we need to find her. She can still fly and may return to her nest cliff or nearby areas around Shell Beach and Point La Jolla. Finding her quickly is critical.
🚨 If you see this Gull in La Jolla:
Stay on site and keep her in sight from a safe distance until a rescuer arrives. Immediately:
Call SeaWorld Rescue at (800) 541-7325.
Submit a report to Wildlife Jewels Rescue at wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife.
She has only just begun her life. We need to find her before this deadly fishing gear takes that chance away.
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Injured Seal Pup Kyanite Still Needs Space to Come Ashore
Wildlife Jewels continues monitoring injured harbor seal pup Kyanite at La Jolla's Children's Pool. Giving her space to haul out could provide a chance for rescue.
Injured harbor seal pup Kyanite at Children’s Pool in La Jolla. Filmed from a distance using zoom. © Wildlife Jewels / Azi Sharif, July 30, 2026.
Wildlife Jewels’ EYES monitors and Rescue Crew Search Scout volunteers have continued returning to Children’s Pool to monitor injured harbor seal pup Kyanite since June 28.
We observed her again today, July 30. She remains injured and continues trying to come ashore, but people were again gathered close to the shoreline and in the area where she was attempting to haul out.
The video also includes footage from an earlier observation showing Kyanite trying to reach the sand and falling back into the water while people remained close to the shoreline.
All she NEEDS is a small, protected space near the seawall—kept clear of people—so she can safely haul out, rest, and have a chance to be reached by authorized marine mammal rescue responders.
Kyanite has a concerning open wound near her left shoulder that raises concern for infection, and she appears to have difficulty moving. Without a clear path to shore, she may continue losing vital opportunities to haul out, rest, and receive help.
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is illegal to harass marine mammals. NOAA's minimum viewing distance is 50 yards (150 feet). Approaching closely enough to cause a seal to move, retreat into the water, or prevent her from resting may constitute illegal harassment.
If you see Kyanite:
📞 Call SeaWorld Rescue immediately: 1-800-541-7325
Please stay far back and leave the area near the seawall and shoreline completely open. Do not approach, surround, follow, touch, or block her access to shore.
Immediately report any disturbance or harassment to NOAA Fisheries Enforcement at 1-800-853-1964.
For this injured seal pup, one small protected space could make all the difference.
📹 Footage recorded during Wildlife Jewels monitoring at Children’s Pool and filmed from a distance using zoom. © Wildlife Jewels / Azi Sharif.
What Could Make a Lifesaving Difference for This Precious Seal Pup?
Through our routine monitoring, we have repeatedly observed seals attempting to haul out onto the sand directly beside the seawall. A temporary protective buffer placed immediately along that section—even extending just one to two feet onto the sand—could keep visitors from occupying the exact area the seals need to reach land. Wildlife Jewels cannot place barriers there independently; they would need to be placed by the City or another authorized authority
Giving Kyanite access to this small stretch of sand could allow her to rest and provide SeaWorld Rescue with a critical opportunity to reach her safely. Without that protected space, she may continue to be blocked from hauling out, forced back into the water, and lose a vital chance to survive.
Why Space Matters
For an injured seal pup, space is life-saving. She needs a safe opportunity to come ashore and rest on the sand so authorized rescue teams have the best chance to reach and safely assist her.
How You Can Help
If you see this seal pup, please keep your distance, do not approach, and call SeaWorld Rescue right away while keeping the pup in sight from a safe distance: 1-800-541-7325.
Please give seals and sea lions plenty of space, stay behind posted barriers, and report injured or distressed marine mammals immediately.
Quick reporting and giving wildlife space can help save lives.
Injured harbor seal pup Kyanite at Children’s Pool in La Jolla. Filmed from a distance using zoom. © Wildlife Jewels / Azi Sharif, July 30, 2026.
Video caption/credit:
Injured harbor seal pup at Children’s Pool in La Jolla. Photographed from a distance using a zoom lens. © Wildlife Jewels / Azi Sharif, July 10, 2026.
Video caption/credit:
Injured harbor seal pup at Children’s Pool in La Jolla. Photographed from a distance using a zoom lens. © Wildlife Jewels / Azi Sharif, June 28, 2026.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Wildlife Jewels EYES and Rescue Updates
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Wildlife Jewels continues to document seabird entanglements in La Jolla, particularly at Point La Jolla, as birds face fishing gear and other pressures.