A laughing gull trapped in discarded fishing line at the Causeway Islands Park is getting a second chance at life, thanks to the quick action of local rescuers.
On August 4, Lee County Parks & Recreation staff and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) shorebird biologists rushed to the scene after spotting the distressed bird. The team carefully freed the gull, which had become dangerously entangled.
Sadly, incidents like this are all too common along our shores. “Wildlife entanglement is a frequent problem on our beaches,” SCCF noted. “You can help prevent the next close call by disposing of fishing line properly at designated recycling stations, such as our Mind Your Line stations across Sanibel and surrounding areas.”
There are currently four monofilament recycling stations on the causeway. If you cannot access a station, SCCF recommends cutting used fishing line into small pieces before placing it in the trash.
The rescued gull was taken to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) for evaluation and treatment. “We’re optimistic he will be back in the wild soon,” SCCF shared.
Find a recycling station: View the map here
ℹ️ Learn more about the Mind Your Line program: Visit mindyourline.org
