PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. - State and federal authorities are investigating the death of a juvenile pelican after Sunday's St. Paul's Carnival Association parade in Pass Christian.

The Sun Herald reports U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are investigating the death to determine if parade attendees played a part in its death.

The newspaper reports a video posted on the internet showed a group of float riders throwing Mardi Gras beads at the pelican until it became visibly distressed and walked into traffic where it was struck by a vehicle and killed.

Missy Dubuisson of Wild at Heart Rescue in Vancleave told the paper the body of the pelican has been recovered and a necropsy will be conducted.

Pelicans are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.