One fishing hook can make dinner miserable for any bird. This month our veterinarian Dr. Rebecca Duerr performed surgery on a beautiful Black-crowned Night-Heron at our Los Angeles Wildlife Center. The heron had ingested a hook which became lodged in its stomach tissue. During surgery Dr. Duerr created a small incision and was able to … Read more
Check out this beautiful Caspian Tern, photographed by Alex Viduetsky from the oceanic jetty in Playa Del Rey, California. Now look closer and you’ll see what Alex also saw: “Unexpectedly, a Caspian Tern with a fishhook in its right wing flew above my head. It made me think how many birds are getting hooked and how … Read more
On Wednesday this week our Los Angeles clinic admitted a patient with a severe fishing line injury. This Canada Goose was rescued by the staff at El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. When it arrived at our Los Angeles wildlife center we found thick wads of monofilament line constricting both legs, with yet more … Read more
Who does not love a Surf Scoter? With its striking multi-colored bill and a male’s velvety black feathers. This bird is in care after getting entangled in fishing line. It had a hook in its his leg and another in his neck. He is recovering well. You can see this Scoter on our birdcam: http://bird-rescue.org/birdcam//birdcam-1.aspx
Photos by Cheryl Reynolds Great Blue Herons are among the most majestic of aquatic birds, with their S-curved necks in flight, graceful stature and lightning-quick reflexes as they hunt for prey at water’s edge. Though this species has been protected by federal law for nearly a century, our wildlife teams regularly care for herons injured … Read more
Photos by Kylie Clatterbuck A common sight in our Los Angeles wildlife clinic: Here is the latest Brown Pelican to come to us with a fishing gear injury, this one affecting the bird’s left leg and foot. Fishing gear in the environment is one of several issues addressed in Judy Irving’s new documentary Pelican … Read more
Photos by Kelly Berry This Brown Pelican was brought to our Los Angeles center on August 18 from the Long Beach area, where it was found wrapped in a large amount of fishing tackle. Rehabilitation technician Kelly Berry reports that one lure had four fishing hooks of various sizes, two treble hooks and a long … Read more
Dear Friends, If you work in this business, you learn to live with a lot of heartache. For every case ending in an awe-inspiring release, there’s an animal whose injuries were just too much to bear. Some stories are a mix of both. Our Los Angeles center team recently received this adult Elegant Tern and … Read more
Terns upon intake, photo by Kelly Berry A number of loyal readers have asked us for an update on the Elegant Tern found hooked by fishing lure to one of the bird’s chicks. (Read more on this case at Care2.com and the Daily Breeze.) Both birds continue to be in the care of our Los … Read more
Update July 8, 2014 from our vet: “Wounds are healing well but both parent and chick still have guarded prognosis for full return to function. Chick has elbow and leg problems, parent has wing problem.” We will continue to update you when we know more. Thanks for your concern. –IBR Staff As we posted earlier … Read more