This morning (November 17), volunteers from Dartford Animal Rescue were called to the fishing club at Brooklands Lakes after a small black-headed gull had become ‘impaled’ on a fishing hook.
The seagull, which is known to be the UK’s most common type of gull, had managed to become entangled with the fishing line, with one fishing hook embedded into the animal’s body.
The line was attached to a total of six hooks, which had been attached to a plastic lure designed to resemble a fish.
Dartford Animal Rescue say that they believe that the gull – named Bhaz by volunteers – mistook the lure for a real fish, becoming entrapped in the process.
The incident was described as “a casualty waiting to happen”, with the lure and six hooks left dangling from a tree.
The gull was rescued by volunteers, who got the gull free with some aid from staff members from the fishing club.
The gull was safely rescued and freed, with volunteers “ecstatic” to discover that the gull was able to stand on both legs and appeared not to have broken any wings – which is very common in these incidents.
Following his safe rescue, members of the fishing club scouted the area by boat to remove any fishing line and hooks left in trees, to avoid any more wildlife casualties.
Bhaz is currently in the care of Dartford Animal Rescue, with further updates on his condition expected later this week.
Founder and director Ciara O’Hare said: “It is an almost daily call for us, an animal tangled in fishing litter, particularly during the spring and summer seasons.”
Dartford Animal Rescue is entirely funded through its founders and donations from the public, anyone wishing to donate can do so by clicking on this link.
