Warning to anglers after cygnet swallows fishing hook

THE RSPCA has urged anglers to take litter home with them after a baby swan swallowed a large fishing hook.
The cygnet in recoveryThe cygnet in recovery
The cygnet in recovery

The cygnet was found near wetland area on Lowfield Road, Bolton-upon-Dearne, on August 29, with a 7cm-long fishing hook in his throat and fishing line wrapped around his esophagus.

He was taken to a nearby vets but was transferred to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange wildlife centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, as his injuries needed more specialist care.

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Vets at the centre put a camera down the cygnet’s throat and managed to untangle the hook and 15cm-long line (pictured below) which had left deep and infected wounds in the bird’s throat.

The cygnet is now recovering in the centre’s isolation unit and it is hoped he will be released back into the wild soon.

Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, said: “This cygnet had a very lucky escape as he could have been much more seriously injured.”

The cygnet isn’t the only bird to be at Stapeley Grange because of fishing litter injuries — there are currently four other birds in isolation who are also being treated there after getting tangled in fishing line or swallowing hooks. The centre also has a number of birds in its outdoor enclosures that are also recovering from fishing litter injuries.

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“If someone had disposed of their fishing litter correctly in the first place, then these birds would never have needed to have come into our care,” said Lee. “Most anglers do clean up after themselves but sadly there are a quite few who don’t and this is what happens when fishing litter is left lying about.

“We do see a lot of instances like this at Stapeley Grange — we wish we didn’t see anything like this at all, it is so frustrating for the team. Just a little thought and care could save an animal’s life, so we urge all anglers to take their litter home with them.”

Last year, the RSPCA rescued 678 animals from fishing litter, of which 463 were wild birds.

For information about about to dispose of your fishing litter properly please visit www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/litter/fishing.

Top tips include:

  • Take unwanted fishing line home and cut it into pieces before putting in the bin.
  • Be aware of surrounding trees — discarded line caught in foliage causes problems for wildlife.
  • Don’t leave bait unattended — always remove from the hook and put in safe place.
  • Use a bait box.
  • Dispose of any litter you see, even if it’s not your own.
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The RSPCA is a charity and relies on public donations to exist. It costs Stapeley Grange £50,000 to feed the 6,500 animals which are admitted every year. The food bill for seals alone costs £500 a week. Anyone who would like to support the vital work of Stapeley Grange can now donate online at www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/rspcahq/stapeleygrange.

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