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 A Busy Summer for Loon Rescues
In early June, we received multiple calls about a tangled loon on Lake Winnisquam. Unfortunately after two rescue attempts, we have not been able to get close enough to capture this loon.
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Photo of tangled loon on Lake Winnisquam taken on July 11. Posted on LPC's Facebook page by Trisha Grant.
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On July 12 (second rescue attempt), after carrying the stick for over a month, the loon was still diving for 60-90 seconds and traveling long distances underwater. We will continue to monitor this loon and welcome any additional reports or information if the loon appears to be slowing down. On July 8, another tangled loon was rescued from Mascoma Lake. The fishing line was wrapped around the loon's wings and was also inside its mouth. X-rays taken at Weare Animal Hospital revealed a very large hook inside the loon.
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An x-ray reveals a very large fishing hook inside a loon that was captured on Lake Mascoma in early July. Image courtesy of Weare Animal Hospital.
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The loon was transferred to Tufts Veterinary Hospital where they attempted to remove the hook endoscopically. Unfortunately the hook was too big and chances of survival were quite slim, so the loon was euthanized.
On July 27, a loon was rescued near Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee and taken to Interlakes Animal Hospital in Meredith for a radiograph. They found an infected fracture at the top of the right tarsus and other wounds on the right foot which would prevent the loon from using its right leg ever again, so it was euthanized. We are not sure how these injuries occured, but hopefully a necropsy will shed some light on what happened.
On a happier note, a Red-throated Loon was rescued after it crash-landed on a road in New Hampton. It was brought to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center where we collected and transferred it to Maria Colby from Wings of Dawn Rehabilitation Center. After a few days of R&R and some tasty fish, it was released on the coast! Another tangled loon was rescued on Silver Lake in Tilton/Belmont on July 16. X-rays taken at Interlakes Animal Hospital revealed no fishing tackle, so the loon was transferred (via Kappy Sprenger) to Avian Haven Wild Bird Rehabiliation Center in Freedom, Maine. It was released on the coast yesterday (see photo below)!
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A common loon flaps its wings after being released in Penobscot Bay on August 6. Photo courtesy of Avian Haven.
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All of these stories should remind us how important it is to use non-lead fishing tackle only and to reel in around loons.
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