Fishing Line Rescue on Forked Lake
Peter Blackwood captured this photo of a loon injured by fishing tackle.
On Monday, July 8, Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (ACLC) staff received a call about a loon with a fishing hook embedded in its mouth. The call came from Peter Blackwood, a photographer from Canandaigua, New York, who was photographing loons and noticed that one of the loons was making strange movements with its mouth. After zooming in on his photos, he could see the attached fishing hook and fishing line.
“It made me cringe,” Peter said.
He called the ACLC office to report the wounded loon, and ACLC staff contacted the Forked Lake Campgound. Campground staff were able to confirm that the loon was still in the area, and actually part of a nesting pair.
ACLC staff members Dr. Nina Schoch, Karli Wood and Brendan Gruber along with long-time rescue volunteers Lance Durfey and Amy Sauer traveled to Forked Lake in the evening of July 9 to attempt the rescue. Karli, Lance and Amy launched a canoe and Lance was able to net the bird and safely bring it aboard.
The fishing hook embedded in the corner of the loon’s mouth. Photo by ACLC staff and volunteers.
Dr. Nina Schoch trims the barb from the hook so it can be removed. Photo by ACLC staff and volunteers.
Back on shore, Dr. Schoch examined the loon and was able to successfully remove the hook by cutting the barb and working it through the wound. She also used ice packs to help cool the bird down - if loons aren’t in water, where they regulate their body temperatures through their feet, they can quickly overheat which adds to their distress.
Dr. Nina Schoch and rescue volunteer Lance Durfey release the loon back onto Forked Lake. Photo by ACLC staff and volunteers.
After treating the loon with fluids and antibiotics to prevent infection and banding it, it was released back onto the lake. In all rescues, every effort is made to be quick and efficient in treatment to limit stress to the loon, and to get the loon back onto the lake where it can resume feeding and caring for itself. It has since been spotted swimming near the nest and appears to be making a full recovery.
There are several ways loons (and other wildlife) can come into contact with fishing line and tackle and become injured or entangled. They could eat a fish that still has tackle attached to it, or snag a fish off a fishing line as it’s being reeled in. They can also become entangled in abandoned line that has been discarded in branches or water. Anglers can help reduce the likelihood of wildlife becoming injured by fishing line and tackle by carrying discarded line out with them and disposing of it properly. They can also help prevent lead poisoning in loons by switching to lead-free fishing tackle.
Thank you to Peter Blackwood for his careful observations, and to all community members who reach out when they find a loon in distress. If you come across a loon that is entangled in fishing line, grounded on a road, or is acting listless or lethargic, give us a call at 518-354-8636 or email us at info@adkloon.org. Please be prepared to share your name and contact information, the location of the loon, and if possible, to include a photo or video of the distressed loon to help us promptly assess the situation.
Denise Silfee, ACLC Education & Communications Director