Plight of the Pelican: How Science Saved a Species

A richly illustrated nonfiction picture book celebrating how scientists and activists can work together to create change and protect wildlife, making the world safer for creatures both big and small.

How do you save a species? Start at the edges of the food chain.

In the 1950s, the brown pelican went from thriving to barely surviving. The culprit was DDT: a harmful pesticide that seeped into soil, spread in the water, festered in small fish, and ultimately caused the pelican population to plummet. Scientists sounded the alarm, but faced pushback from farmers who relied on DDT to control pesky pests.

It required many voices joining together, demanding change, before the government took action. Thanks to these efforts, we now have the EPA and the Endangered Species Act, which continue to protect wildlife threatened by climate change.

This thrilling and inspirational nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to bioaccumulation, endangered species, and one of the biggest grassroots movements of our time. It connects the success of the pelican’s regrowth with conservation efforts in place today, such as pollinator gardens, wildlife corridors, and much more.

Sweeping illustrations depict the brown pelican’s journey from near extinction to a robust, populous species. Back matter includes more details on the EPA, a glossary, and an index.