Tawny owl trapped by fishing line

Stunning bird of prey lucky to escape serious injury

06.12.11

A tawny owl had to be rescued by firefighters in Warwickshire last week after he became entangled in discarded fishing line, leaving him precariously suspended by his wing over a river.

The bird of prey was found hanging approximately eight feet over the River Leam by Emscote Road in Warwick on Monday, 28 November.

RSPCA officers were called out, but due to the owl's hazardous position, it was impossible to rescue him without specialist help.

Rescued unscathed and released back to the wild 

Firefighters from Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service freed the bird using an inflatable walkway and a specialist hook that they devised at the scene with the support of RSPCA Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Ian Pethick.

The male owl was taken to vets and remarkably did not sustain any major injuries to his wing.

After spending a couple of nights with a specialist wild bird carer in Warwickshire, the bird was successfully released back to the wild.

 

Lucky escape for owl - could have been much worse

ACO Pethick said: 

This tawny owl could so easily have suffered a broken wing which would have been devastating news.

The fact that he became trapped in such a public place, behind a busy supermarket, probably saved his life.

 

Litter-related animal rescues can so easily be avoided

He added: 

All incidents we attend where we have to rescue distressed wild birds caught up in fishing line are entirely unnecessary.

The fear and suffering this beautiful bird endured could have been so easily avoided if the fishing line had been safely disposed of.

I would appeal to people that go fishing to please take their litter home with them at the end of the day.

There are dangerous consequences for wildlife when litter is casually dropped or discarded on the streets.

 

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Help and advice

• Read more about the dangers of litter to animals and what you can do to help.
   
• Find out what to do with injured wild animals.
   
• To report a sick or injured animal, or an animal in danger, please contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line: 0300 1234 999.
   

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