MIAMI – Pelican Harbor Seabird Station celebrated the groundbreaking of its new facility on Monday, marking a significant milestone in its decades-long mission to rehabilitate and protect South Florida’s wildlife.
Located on a 2.4-acre property along Miami’s Little River, the new site will feature an 8,000-square-foot building — eight times larger than its current facility on the 79th Street Causeway. The expansion will include nine clinics, a dedicated animal hospital, and separate public and rehabilitation spaces.
“This has been a labor of love for many years,” said Local 10 Animal Advocate Jacey Birch. “If they could save thousands of animals every year before, imagine how many they can save now.”
Since its founding in 1980, Pelican Harbor has treated over 44,000 animals, including pelicans, eastern screech owls, and opossums. The facility currently averages 2,000 patients annually and rehabilitates 150 species of birds and mammals.
PHSS Board Chair Robert Glidewell emphasized the nonprofit’s dual mission.
“It’s a beautiful facility, open to the public 365 days a year. We’ll have a public access side with ambassador animals — those that are permanently disabled and can’t be released — and a separate rehab side.”
The new project, which has already raised $12 million in donations and grants, will require an additional $4 million to complete. Construction is expected to be finished by early 2026.
The expanded facility will also include a public area showcasing “ambassador animals” that are permanently disabled and cannot be released, alongside a private rehabilitation section for ongoing wildlife treatment.
“It’s been a journey filled with highs and lows, from dreaming about what this could be and creating our wish list to tackling the nitty-gritty of budgeting and fundraising,” said PHSS Director Chloe Chelz.
To mark the occasion, a rehabilitated Cooper’s hawk was released back into the wild, symbolizing the station’s mission of rescue and renewal.
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