Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 14:18:17 -0500
Subject: Barred Owl snagged by fish hook

Last week, I had an experience (story below) that reminded me of the dangers of fish hooks left by careless fishermen. I'm sure all of you are aware of this problem, but I'd like to encourage you to keep an eye out for fishing lines and hooks that are left tangled in trees along the shore. I was in Mississippi on business and decided to check out the location nearby where an Ivory-billed Woodpecker was recently reported. Hey, you never know. My plan was to stop in this area on the way to meetings each morning. On the first morning, I heard a call that sounded very interesting, but I wasn't able to locate the source. Since the call sounded right based on what I've read and was unlike anything I've heard, I didn't have any trouble getting motivated to show up there at dawn the next morning. Unfortunately, I got side tracked. I saw some movement on the far side of a lake, which turned out to be a Barred Owl dangling by a fishing line. I made my way around the lake and realized it was on an island about 100 feet out. I went back around the lake hoping it was just a peninsula, but there was no way to get out there without getting wet. Since it was a chilly morning, I didn't want to get my clothes wet. So I stripped down to my underwear and stepped into the lake. I immediately sank down to my knees. I thought about giving up but couldn't bear to leave the owl to suffer. I walked up the bank and found a place where I only sank up to my calves and made it across in waist deep water. When I got to the island, I noticed an alligator. Great. Here I am naked on an island with an alligator in the middle of winter and having to cross the murky water again. I made my way over to the owl, which began snapping its bill and flashing its talons. I looked around for something to put over the owl's head to calm it down. All I could think of was my underwear. That calmed it down, but left me a bit more vulnerable. I had no experience handling owls but managed to avoid its talons and grab hold of its legs. I got bitten once, but that wasn't too bad. I was hoping to release the owl, but the hook was really set in the wing. So I took it to a rehabber, who found no broken bones and thinks it should be OK. There is a bit of humor to this story, but it was also very traumatic. I hope anyone who reads this will attempt to remove fishing lines that they find while birding.

Mike Collins
Annandale, Virginia