White Pelicans live between 12 and 14 years in the wild. They do not reach maturity until age three, when they begin to breed. The White Pelicans of Alberta are affected significantly by the disturbance of their nesting grounds. Adult pelicans will leave their eggs and young chicks and move to another area if they are disturbed. When this happens, eggs do not hatch and the young die.
Human disturbance is the most common cause of colony abandonment.
Alberta has designated seven breeding sites in the Wildlife Act as Seasonal Wildlife Sanctuaries. It is illegal to enter or approach within a half-mile of nesting sites between April 15 and September 15. Management of this species requires projects to develop and maintain suitable nesting sites. Funds for habitat development projects are raised through the sale of recreational hunting and fishing licenses as well as public donations. In Alberta, the outlook for the survival of the White Pelican is positive.