Great blue heron released after fishing hook injury in Morris County; discarded tackle remains threat to birds
MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — A great blue heron rescued with a fishing hook and line embedded in its foot has been released back into the wild after treatment at The Raptor Trust.
The heron, identified by the wildlife rehabilitation center as patient 26-1477, was admitted May 29 after being brought in by Roxbury Animal Control. It had been found at Willow Walk Pond with a hook and fishing line embedded in its right foot, causing a bleeding puncture wound.
During an initial examination, staff at The Raptor Trust also found bruising on both wings.
The center’s medical team removed the hook and fishing line, which still had bait attached, cleaned the wound and took X-rays of the foot. The bird’s foot was bandaged, with regular dressing changes to support healing.
Additional X-rays were taken after staff found bruising on both wings and the left elbow. Arnica was applied to help reduce inflammation, and the heron received antibiotics for a parasitic infection.
By June 4, the heron had improved enough to be moved from an isolation enclosure to a flight cage for conditioning and observation. It was released June 10 at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
The Raptor Trust said improperly discarded fishing line and tackle remain common hazards for waterbirds, including great blue herons. Entanglement can cause serious injuries, limit movement and make it harder for birds to feed or escape predators.
The organization is urging anglers and visitors to properly dispose of fishing line and tackle and remove litter found near waterways to help protect local wildlife.
