Osprey tangled in twine euthanized after being rescued by fire department - East Idaho News
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Osprey tangled in twine euthanized after being rescued by fire department

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The following is a news release from the Teton Raptor Center. Stock image.

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming — On Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m., a community member near Swinging Bridge called Teton Raptor Center (TRC) about a young osprey hanging upside down from a nest platform. Rehabilitation Coordinator Sarah Ramirez answered the call, and was able to contact the Jackson Fire Department for help in reaching the bird. Lower Valley Energy also arrived with a bucket truck and supplies to provide further assistance.

Upon arrival, it was clear the osprey had its wing and a foot tangled in baling twine, unable to get free. Firefighters Dave Meagher and Matt Redwine from the Jackson Fire Department arrived to assist Sarah Ramirez with the rescue. Ramirez and Redwine were lifted up to the bird in the fire truck. Ramirez took hold of the osprey’s feet, and supported the body while Redwine cut the bird free. As they were lowered down, the two immediately began working on removing the twine from where they could. Upon removal, Ramirez noticed another pair of osprey feet within the ball of baling twine. It is likely another osprey had died this past year in the same ball of twine.

Sarah Ramirez met TRC’s Raptor Care & Volunteer Coordinator, Jessie Walters, at Jackson Animal Hospital, where the two further removed the remaining twine. Once removed, it was clear that both the ulna and radius were broken, compounding through the skin, and both were black. The wrist and fingers were stiff and cold, and likely had been lacking blood flow for at least a week’s time. X-rays revealed completely shattered ulna and radius. It was decided among Ramirez, Walters, Dr. Carleton and Dr. Wienman that the patient would never regain function in her injured wing, eliminating the possibility of returning to life and the wild and indicating that the most compassionate course of action was euthanasia.

Baling twine is used to keep hay bales together, and is often times left in fields. Osprey line their nest with many soft natural materials, such as moss and grass, but have a special affinity to picking up baling twine. This polypropylene rope very easily gets tangled in an osprey’s sharp talons, and in the case of this young chick, can wrap around wings and legs. Each year, young chicks and adult osprey are endangered by filament entanglement. You can help prevent injuries by picking up your used baling twine or fishing line, storing it in an area out of sight, and disposing of it properly.

Also last week, TRC staff rescued a different injured osprey, this time tangled in fishing line. The bird was spotted on the Snake River a mile and a half up from the Wilson Bridge standing on a rock bar only accessible by boat. With the help of a fishing guide from Grand Fishing Adventures, staff were able to rescue the bird. The female osprey had two fishing hooks stuck in her, one in her left leg and one in her chest. Additionally, she had fishing line wrapped around her legs and one of her wings, rendering her unable to fly. Her treatment includes daily cleaning and dressing of wounds and a of course of antibiotics to prevent infection. Her bruising and wounds are healing well, and she is expected to return to the wild within a few days.

Teton Raptor Center sends huge thanks to the original finder, Jackson Hole Fire Department, Lower Valley Energy, and Jackson Animal Hospital for the quick response and team effort that led to rescuing this patient.

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