Recently, North Island Wildlife Recovery (NIWRA) centre staff were called out to retrieve a dead blue heron that was hanging from fishing line dangling in a tree over a pond. What a tragic, cruel, and senseless death.
Fishing lines and hooks left on the side of waterways can be swallowed or become entangled in an animal’s feathers or legs. Unwanted and carelessly discarded fishing line, hooks, and netting cause entrapment, pain, injury, and death to many fish, birds, turtles, and other animals who live on or near the water. Waterfowl, fish and turtles can become entangled when swimming. Birds sometimes use discarded fishing line to build nests, which can entrap both the parents and the chicks, causing feather damage, lacerations, and/or death.
Ingested fishhooks are painful, dangerous, and potentially fatal for the animals that eat them and for predators such as larger birds or animals that feed on the smaller animals.
Animals can become entangled in fishing line while trying to escape. The line can cut into the animal's skin, causing infections or amputation. The line can also wrap around limbs, cutting off blood supply. Entangled animals are unable to move, find food or escape predators.
Birds and animals often can’t see discarded fishing line and get too close and become entangled. If entanglement doesn't kill the animal right away (typically by drowning), wounds caused by the fishing line can be ghastly. Over time, the hard material can cut into the skin and muscle, and the animal lives in a tortured condition
Hooks and sinkers can lodge in the animal's mouth, esophagus, or stomach if swallowed. This can cause internal bleeding, tissue damage, pain, and death. Lead hooks and sinkers can cause lead toxicity in raptors.
What can you do to help?
Pick up and properly discard your fishing gear. Dispose of fishing line by cutting it into pieces and putting it in a covered trash can. Volunteer at a shoreline cleanup event and retrieve any fishing line you discover. If you find an animal caught in fishing line, call a local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. If you see an animal that is entangled, has swallowed a hook, or is injured by fishing line, contact a wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice.
Thank you for caring about wildlife.
NIWRA, a non-profit organization, is situated in Errington. We are open to the public daily for viewing of non-releasable animals. Please visit our website at www.niwra.org to learn more about our programs, read stories about our animals, and learn how you can help care for wildlife.
