Canoeists help save tangled ducks at lake
"Most of the problems stem from fishing line"— FLCC.
They usually paddle for glory, but it was a different story on Tuesday 25 February when members of the Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) helped to rescue helpless ducks for CLAW – Community Led Animal Welfare.
But according to FLCC spokesperson, Jennie Dallas, “This is nothing new. We’ve helped them many times before and it is an ongoing thing.
“CLAW and we have rescued and saved the lives of nearly 100 ducks and geese in the past couple of years at Florida Lake.”
This was the case again two days ago when canoeists were spotted catching injured ducks and geese to give them the necessary medical treatment to prevent horrible deaths.
The FLCC team managed to rescue three ducks that day and another one late on Wednesday night 26 February.
CLAW – a well-respected animal welfare organisation – frequently requests the assistance of the Florida Lake Canoe Club members to assist with shepherding injured birds towards their nets in a similar way that a sheep dog directs a flock of sheep to safe areas.
Jennie says that, “Fishing line often tangles up in branches of trees where the birds roost for safe refuge.
“They become stuck in the high branches of the trees, unable to fly away or get off the tree, and many ducks and geese have been seen blowing helplessly in the wind while they slowly starve to death.
“Most of the problems stem from fishing line or gut that gets knotted and twisted around their legs, affecting the swimming ability they need for feeding, as well as affecting blood flow, which often result in horrible swellings, gangrene and infections that lead to death, or even amputation.
“Once the bird has been captured, the fishing line can be cut to free the bird, and antibiotics and antiseptics can be applied – in many cases all that are needed to give the bird a chance to heal and survive, albeit it crippled or lame for life.”
• Details: To report injured birds, contact CLAW on 076 850 4466.
