March 17, 2005

Several phone calls were made to local rehabilitators in February and March to help a large white goose that had a leg trap and chain attached to it's foot.  We tried to catch it on several occasions, but even with the extra weight of the trap, the goose could fly.  Sam, a member of our local zoo, lived in the area that the goose spent a lot of time. Sam was eventually able to catch the goose, remove the trap, and clean the foot.  Sam was glad when the wrestling match was over and happy to watch the goose fly off.  It has since been spotted on several occasions and is doing well.

Spring brings out a lot of fisherman.  A habit of some is to just throw any discarded fishing line on the ground or in the water.  Waterfowl and birds can become entangled in the line which puts a strangle hold on whatever it attaches to.  The line becomes so tight that swelling occurs cutting off circulation and eventually killing any tissue below it.

Breeding birds will attempt to use it for nest building material.  When the babies hatch, they become hopelessly entangled and die.  We have even seen line wrapped around the beaks of birds preventing them from eating and birds dangling for hours from tree limbs the line was wrapped around.

By the time we get a call to rescue a bird caught in fishing line, it is sometimes too late to reverse the damage.  So please do your part and pick up any fishing line or string that you see on the ground or in the water and dispose of it in a covered trash can.