While hunting for fish last night, this Barred Owl ended up caught in black plastic netting. When he dove down after a fish, his talons became tangled, and the more he struggled to get away, the more tightly wrapped he became. This morning, the homeowner found him barely alive and sinking in the water. Unable to free him, she called us at 6am, and we were on site within the hour.
Soaked, cold, exhausted, and incredibly stressed, I honestly didn’t think he had much of a shot. Netting injuries can be brutal—we often see dislocations, deep constriction wounds, and even loss of a limb when circulation has been cut off for too long.
Luckily, this little guy was an exception. Once we cut away the netting, he was able to use his leg! After pain meds, oxygen, heat, and medication to help with circulation, he’s doing so much better this morning and is on the path to recovery.
Every year, countless birds and other wild animals are injured or killed after becoming entangled in garden, pond, landscaping, and sports netting. These injuries are often preventable: remove netting when it isn’t needed, keep necessary netting pulled tight, and checking it regularly. Sports nets—especially soccer, lacrosse, and batting nets—should be taken down or securely rolled up when they aren’t in use. What looks like an ordinary net to us can become a deadly trap for wildlife.
PS: please always call a rehabber before cutting an animal loose from netting or fishing line- what might look a simple tangle might be more insidious or need a closer look.
