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News > May 2008 > Monofilament:
A Wild Entanglement
 Monofilament:
A Wild Entanglement
by Don Elroy, Advocacy & Education Coordinator
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR)
received a call from Michael Young, Director of Blanco State
Park, requesting help in capturing geese who had become entangled
in fishing line that had been discarded by careless fishermen.
Two geese arrived at WRR with monofilament line so embedded
in their skin that surgery was required to remove it and allow
the birds to move normally. One goose had a broken leg due
to prolonged entanglement. Both geese are now healed and recovered
from their injuries. A third goose was also brought to WRR
with an amputated foot, presumably from previous entanglement
in the monofilament line.
How Could This Happen?
Monofilament is now the predominant fishing
line used across the country. It is a single-strand plastic
line that is either clear or tinted red or green. Careless
fishermen and women get the line snagged in trees or under
the water and pull the line until it snaps. Once it breaks
they leave the fishing line in the water or wound around tree
limbs and bushes that grow near the water. To most animals
this line is nearly invisible and inevitably they fly, walk,
or swim into the middle of it. Once entangled, an animal will
struggle to break free and generally become more entangled
in the process. Other animals may ingest the monofilament
line, causing internal injuries, or bring it back as nesting
material, which endangers their young.
The Cleanup
WRR staff, volunteers, and young rescuers purchased
poles intended for tree trimming to reach the monofilament
line in trees sometimes over 15 feet tall and overhanging
the water. We spent four hours on April 5, 2008, climbing
trees, wading in the river, removing entangled line, hooks,
sinkers, and bobbers from trees and bushes. We managed to
eliminate an entire picnic table top full of these materials
from the environment.
Public Education and Actions
Education and action can reduce the risk to
wildlife from monofilament line, yet cannot entirely remove
risks. As long as fishing occurs in wildlife habitat, there
will be a need for future action. Fish will become entangled
in line under the water, anglers will continually break line
off in trees, and birds will become entangled, so until we
understand the necessity and the urgency of a complete solution,
our wildlife neighbors will suffer the effects of our carelessness.
We have made an encouraging start. Let us now make sure that
the life-threatening issue of monofilament line and all its
inherent dangers are tamed for the sake of the wild and those
who call it home.
What Can You Do?
| • |
Work with your local parks and recreation
departments to organize monofilament clean-up events. |
| • |
Contact
WRR for educational information to be distributed
to park visitors. |
| • |
Gather and recycle monofilament line
(no new line is made from recycled monofilament). |
| • |
Show others what happens to waterfowl
who become entangled in monofilament and urge them to
take action. |
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