Snagged Fishing Line

#Wednesday

From Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge:

While recently volunteering for another organization outside of the Refuge, the CVNWR AmeriCorps members came across a jarring sight. Hanging from an old snag, wrapped up in clear fishing line, was a dead Eastern Phoebe. 

Snagged fishing line is often frustratingly difficult to remove, especially when it wraps around logs or trees. Regardless, it is crucial that it is removed from the environment. When left in trees, or under the water, the tangled line snares any critter that is unfortunate enough to get caught in it. Fish, waterfowl, songbirds, and turtles are all too often caught up in that undetectable trap and face death (or at the very least an unfortunate limb amputation).

We know this image is unsettling, and some would prefer not to see it. However, we believe it is important to share the impact that human behavior can have on wildlife. As the weather gets warmer, and the fishing gets better, we want to remind all anglers to try their best to remove any excess fishing line that gets caught around debris. This one step would have saved that Eastern Phoebe, which would have been an asset to us all since their diet consists of insects like wasps, flies, and even ticks. 




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