“When I saw the bird, I teared up.”
After a long day of running his landscaping company on Nantucket, Massachusetts, Dave Montanile came home ready to relax. But shortly after walking through the door, he looked out the window toward Miacomet Pond and noticed something unusual across the water.
Something in a tree caught his attention, so Montanile grabbed his binoculars to get a better look.
A Heron Was Trapped Near The Pond
As he scanned the area, Montanile spotted the black-and-white feathers of a black-crowned night heron. These birds are often seen around the pond and are usually more active at night.
But this heron was not resting or hunting. He was stuck.
The bird appeared to be suspended between two trees and suddenly began flailing. Realizing the animal was in danger, Montanile quickly drove to the other side of the pond to help.
Fishing Line Had Wrapped Around The Bird
When Montanile reached the area, he discovered that the heron was tangled in fishing line. The line stretched between two trees about 30 feet apart, trapping the bird in place.
Fortunately, Montanile knew how to respond. He volunteers with Nantucket Animal Rescue and has experience helping sick and injured wildlife on the island.
He grabbed tools from his landscaping truck, stepped into the water, and began cutting the fishing line.
Rescuers Work Carefully To Free Him
Montanile managed to free the heron from the trees, but the rescue was not over. A large amount of fishing line was still wrapped tightly around the bird’s wing.
He wrapped the frightened heron in a towel and placed him safely in a crate until Nantucket Animal Rescue cofounders Rain Harbison and Blair Perkins arrived to help.
Together, the rescuers carefully removed the remaining fishing line. The process required patience, because the thin strands were hidden beneath the bird’s feathers. Each time they thought they had removed it all, they found another piece.
Finally, after careful work, the heron was completely free.
The Injured Bird Needed Medical Care
Although the bird was no longer trapped, he had suffered injuries from the fishing line and needed professional care.
Since Nantucket does not have a wildlife rehabilitation center, injured animals are transported to rehabbers on the Cape Cod mainland. Hy-Line Cruises helps by ferrying rescued animals for free.
The heron was taken in by Wild Care Cape Cod, where rescuers discovered that he was dehydrated and had a fractured clavicle.
Hope For A Safe Return Home
After treatment, rest, bandage changes, and physical therapy, rescuers hoped the heron would recover well enough to be released back on Nantucket.
The rescue team also reminded people how dangerous discarded fishing line can be for wildlife. What may seem like a small piece of trash can cause serious injuries or even death for birds and other animals.
In this case, Montanile happened to notice the heron at exactly the right time. Thanks to his quick action and the teamwork of local rescuers, the bird was given a chance to heal and return home.