Minnesota Raptor Center Shares How Rope, Twine + Fishing Line Kills Birds
Anyone cleaning their yard knows it can be an all-day chore, but a necessary one. Many don't stop there, taking the time to also cleanup their neighbor hood if the situation warrants.
One such situation would be if anyone sees rope, twin, fishing line or anything of that nature left on the ground. That is because those are the exact thing that can pose a real threat to birds. The risks include entanglement, injury and even death. Obviously, the better we all are at keeping these materials out of the environment, the more we can help wildlife.
The Minnesota Raptor Center recently shared this sad reminder on their official Facebook page. They see these materials occasionally in bird nests, either because they are tangled around plant matter and carried to the nest, or picked up directly as nesting material.
Recently, a tragic discovery was made:
This juvenile osprey was found hanging by its leg by baling twine in Long Lake, Minnesota. By the time it was seen and rescuers could get to it, the damage to its leg and hip was too extensive to treat and the bird was euthanized. A second chick was also found deceased in the nest wrapped in twine, and it looked to have died several weeks earlier.
The Raptor Center was established in 1974 as part of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. It's a a terrific organization that rehabilitates more than 700 sick and injured raptors each year, while also helping to identify emerging environmental issues related to raptor health and populations.
The Raptor Center is also an internationally renowned education facility, training veterinary students and veterinarians from around the world to become future leaders in raptor medicine and conservation. In addition, The Raptor Center reaches approximately 150,000 people annually through its unique public education programs and events.
My sister has been heavily involved with The Raptor Center for many years, even standing as the woman you see at places like Target Field that has a bald eagle landing on her arm as part of a patriotic ceremony. She would loudly echo this reminder that it only takes a little bit of cleanup and awareness to protect our birds and other wildlife.