**** Via Hope for Wildlife
How unlucky can a gull get?
This Black Backed Gull was admitted with not one, but three fishing hooks embedded in his bill - one with the line tangled around him. He's doing well, and was described by staff as "a real trooper". Seems like he just wants to get out and catch more fish!
How much trouble does broken fishing lines and fishing gear cause for wildlife? Much more than you may think! A landmark analysis published in partnership with U.S. Wildlife Rehabilitation facilities showed that tens to hundreds of thousands of animals are affected yearly by recreational gear in the United States alone, with birds making up over 90% of the cases. Out of all recreational gear entanglements and admissions recorded, fishing hooks made up nearly half of all cases, with aquatic birds accounting for over 90% of the avian cases.
