North Dakota White Pelicans in Trouble Again

Last year a large colony of white pelicans in North Dakota caused a great deal of consternation by not showing up at their normal breeding grounds. This year the white pelicans did arrive at their normal breeding grounds at Chase Lake NWR in North Dakota. But now it appears that some 8,000 pelican chicks have died, leaving only about 500. The cause is still unknown, though disease and bad weather are cited as possible culprits.