Herring Gull Un-Hooked

A Herring Gull with fishing hooks lodged in both wings and through the beak is being treated in our Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Program. The bird was apparently hooked and injured when “dinner” turned out to be a fake fish with three treble hooks attached.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist Amy LeMonds, assisted by Rehab Volunteer Christa Sandy, worked to free the bird from the hooks which penetrated both wings and the beak, with the shiny orange fish lure pinned across the body. Using wire cutters, a dremel and pliers, Amy was able to work the hooks free.

Amy and Christa consider it a healthy sign that once free, the gull thanked them with a strong bite to the glove! They quickly put the gull in a shallow bath for hydration and the bird was eager to drink. The rehab staff will start a course of antibiotics with the hope of full recovery and release back into the wild. We have a bunch of photos documenting the procedure over on our Facebook page.

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating that you should always work to avoid cutting your fishing line and leaving lures and hooks like these behind in the water after a fishing trip. You will reduce the risk of injuring wildlife, if the hooks always go back in your tackle box!