LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) rescued a Black-crowned Night Heron after it was found entangled in fishing line and dangling from a tree on Captiva Island Saturday.
According to CROW, this Black-crowned Night Heron was admitted on Saturday, Sept. 16, with a deep cut along its neck from the fishing hook.
After examination, staff removed the line and hook and stapled the wound closed.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE IN SLIDESHOW AHEAD
The heron was immediately put on IV fluids and pain medication to help stabilize for surgery the next day.
Due to the wound’s severity, the mucosa (the wall of muscle surrounding the esophagus) had to be stitched back together before the wound could be sutured closed.
CROW said once the heron’s wound was successfully cleaned and closed, it had an uneventful recovery from surgery.
It continues to receive supportive care, pain medication, and IV fluid therapy with daily progress checks.
CROW reminds everyone of the negative impacts littered fishing lines and gear have on our environment and asks people to properly throw away and report any fishing line found.