Heron rescued thanks to volunteers, Utilities Kingston employees, Sandy Pines

One lucky birdy is flying free today thanks to the quick work of some of the staff from Utilities Kingston and a Good Samaritan who happened to be boating in the right place at the right time. 

On Friday, July 8, 2022, Utilities Kingston employees noticed a heron In trouble, tangled up in fishing tackle and line. 

Thankfully, a Good Samaritan with a boat appeared to help in the nick of time, and was able to catch and free the bird before it was transported to Sandy Pines Wildlife sanctuary via a volunteer driver. 

Thankfully, Sandy Pines says the fishing line had only been attached for a short period of time, so removal of the hook, lure, and line was quick and straightforward. 

Sandy pines said in a post on social media that this isn’t an isolated issue and that the cause and removal of fishing line entangled with birds is fairly common. 

However, Sandy Pines says that birds typically suffer a lot of physical damage due to the struggle to try to free themselves from the line and hooks… but that thankfully this wasn’t the case for this local fowl.

The heron is being monitored by Sandy Pines and they say they plan to release them back into their natural habitat as soon as they can. 

A reminder that Sandy Pines Wildlife Center is a local, independent, not for profit organization with a mandate to help all injured and orphaned wildlife, mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians and release them back into the wild. 

Founder and President Sue Meech is licensed provincially by the Ministry of Natural Resources, and federally by Canadian Wildlife Services to provide care and shelter for birds and mammals.

If you would like to support the work of Sandy Pines and maybe get a little something for yourself in the process, check out Sandy Pines monthly 50/50 raffle. 

In 2011, over 1,700 mammals and birds were received by Sandy Pines, with most being released successfully back into their natural habitats. In 2020, more than 5,000 wild animals were admitted to the centre.

Sandy Pines employs five full-time, year-round staff, have several seasonal staff members, but ultimately relies on several fantastic volunteers. 

In 2007, the centre began hosting an internship program where students actually stay and live at the center as they care for the influx of patients every Spring and Summer.

For more on how you can volunteer or donate to Sandy Pines, visit them here.