A pelican that bit off more than it could chew was released Thursday after being rehabilitated.

The brown pelican was rescued after a hardhead catfish became lodged in the bird's pouch. The fish, which has stiff spines on its side and back, was surgically removed.

The bird was the older of two pelicans released Thursday and the first rehabilitated by the Rockport-Fulton Wings Rescue Center, which was founded in April.

During their stay at the Texas Sealife Center, the two brown pelicans became buddies, so Wings decided to release them together.

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