Treating it like a training exercise for rescuing people, the Melville Fire Department suited up and headed out on thin ice to rescue a downed pelican.

A concerned resident saw a pelican walking around a frozen lake in Melville and knowing it should be long gone south, she watched closely and could see it was limping. In addition his footprints on the ice showed he was desperately looking for open water.

The Melville Fire Department was able to capture the pelican and the good Samaritan who spotted its distress drove it to Salthaven West.

The wildlife rescue says he has a fracture in the femur of the right leg.  The pelican was given strong pain medicine and is resting comfortably.

The pelican has managed to eat a little on its own but it is mostly being hand fed and will be on 10 to 14 days of cage rest then transferred to a rehab centre in Winnipeg.