What began as an attempt to protect a backyard fish pond ended in a life-threatening ordeal for a local raptor, serving as a warning to homeowners about the hidden dangers of “invisible” deterrents.
The Raven Ridge Wildlife Center responded to a distress call from a Lititz, Lancaster County resident who discovered a hawk trapped and struggling in their pond. The homeowner had strung fishing line across the water in an effort to prevent herons from preying on their fish; instead, the line ensnared a hawk mid-flight.
A wildlife center volunteer arrived to find the bird severely entangled. Upon extraction and a preliminary exam, the hawk was found to have suffered torn skin, significant swelling, and severely damaged feathers caused by the thin, high-tension line.
“This situation serves as a reminder that using unnatural materials, such as fishing line or netting, to deter one animal can inadvertently entangle another animal you may not have considered,” the center explained in a statement.
The hawk was transported to the Raven Ridge facility for specialized medical care and rehabilitation. After receiving medical treatment and ample flight time to recover, the red-shouldered hawk was finally ready for release.
Experts noted that while the intentions of the homeowner were protective, the materials used created a nearly invisible “web” that the hawk could not detect until it was too late.
In light of the incident, the wildlife center is sharing critical protocols for anyone who finds an animal caught in line or netting:
Do Not Fully Unbind: Never attempt to pull or strip the line off the animal yourself.
The “Freeing Cut”: Cut only enough of the line to free the animal from its stationary anchor.
Leave a Trail: Leaving the remaining line on the animal allows rehabilitators to follow the strand to its source, ensuring no internal fragments, hooks, or deep ligatures are missed during treatment.
