A pelican has a large “bill,” and this has been the subject of several puns. “Why did the pelican refuse to pay for his meal? His bill was too big” was printed in 1958 newspapers.
 
A restaurant riddle was posted to the newsgroup alt.humor on November 7, 2000:
 
Q: Why did the pelican refuse to pay for his meal?
A: His bill was too big.
   
 
1 August 1958, The Daily Herald (Provo, UT), “Fun Time—The Riddle Box,” pg. 8, col. 7:
Why did the pelican ask his boss for a raise?
Because he has a big bill.
 
Google Groups: alt.humor
elephants
Merv
11/7/00
(...)
Why did the pelican refuse to pay for his meal?
His bill was too big.
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Puns of the Weak 05-23-03
Stan Kegel
5/23/03
(...)
Why did the pelican refuse to pay for his meal?
His bill was too big (Yahooliggans)
 
Twitter
Zaddy ✨
‏@Ryeesuh
Q. Why did the pelican get kicked out of the resturaunt? A. He had a big bill.😊
1:42 AM - 1 Apr 2012
 
Twitter
Jen
‏@JenneeMarie
@mikaykay02 Why did the pelican get kicked out of the restaurant? #HEHEEH
6:00 PM - 18 Apr 2012
 
Twitter
Colin Ratz
‏@RatzinmyPantz
Why did the pelican dine and dash….? Because he had a huge bill #Hahahahahahaha #joketuesday
7:02 PM - 1 May 2012
 
Google Books
October 2012, Boys’ Life, “Think & Grin,” pg. 64, col. 3:
Kaleb: Why did the pelican get kicked out of the restaurant?
Marissa: I don’t know.
Kaleb: His bill was too large. Kaleb Witt/Ice, Duluth, Minn.
 
Reddit—Jokes
Why did the pelican get kicked out of the restaurant?
submitted July 22, 2014 by [deleted]
Because he had a large bill!
 
Reddit—Jokes
Why did the pelican get kicked out of the restaurant?
submitted February 22, 2015 by Krishnath_Dragon
Because he had a very large bill.
 
Reddit—PeliClan
Weekly Pelican Facts #1: Why did the Pelican fly out of the restaurant? (self.PeliClan)
submitted July 11, 2016 by FlyingSpaceDuck
Because it’s bill was too big!