When we go out in nature to explore, or just get some distance from the noise of the city, many of us are there with the intention of relaxing.
Not for one moment would I think that a trip to the forest or the lake would turn into a serious rescue, and yet that’s what happened to this woman from Florida.
She was just paddleboarding when she spotted a clump of feathers floating in the water. At first, she thought nothing of it, but then she realized it was a bird who desperately needed her help.
A Surprising Discovery
The woman noticed that the osprey was stuck in a fishing line and couldn’t get herself out of it. The bird couldn’t fly, so this woman had to help her.
It was heartbreaking for her to think about what this osprey went through, but time was of the essence in this case.
She had to react fast in order to save the bird’s life. She got close to the bird with her board and then gently scooped the bird out of the water.
Shortly after that, she called the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) who responded immediately and rushed to save the osprey.
CROW volunteer Phyllis Hermann was there on a boat, and when she finally got to the bird, she removed all the mangroves from the bird.
Now that she was completely untethered, Hermann placed her in a box and then rushed her to the CROW hospital for treatment.
The Treatment Was Working
CROW wrote on a Facebook post: “At CROW, we removed the line and treated her for minor injuries and dehydration.”
While they were treating the bird, the veterinarians realized that she had some breathing difficulties. This helped them establish what had happened to her before they came to help.
They continued by saying: “When listening with a stethoscope (auscultation), we noted increased respiratory effort and harsh lung sounds, possibly from inhaling water while struggling.”
They gave her antibiotics and she was responding well to the treatment. She was expected to make a full recovery very soon.
Luckily, in this situation, the osprey was found just in time, and she got a second chance thanks to the kindness of the woman who came to her aid.
Who knows what would have happened if she weren’t there at that moment? The osprey will be released into the wild as soon as she makes a full recovery.
The CROW rescuers ended their message by saying: “As always, this is a sobering reminder that improperly discarded fishing line is more than just an eyesore. It can trap, injure, and kill our native and migratory wildlife. Mind your line and fish responsibly!”