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Local man saves snagged osprey
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August 14, 2012 |
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After diving
for a fish discarded by a fisherman on
Fernan Lake, this osprey became
entangled in several fishing lines and
had to struggle to stay afloat. |
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By Debra Hitch
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The bird's
struggles brought it closer to shore,
where Travis Shearer was able to
retrieve one of the lines holding the
bird and bring her to shore. |
Travis Shearer, Bonners Ferry, was fishing on
Lake Fernan in Kootenai County August 2 when he
and others watched as an osprey dove into the
water to retrieve a fish discarded by another
fisherman, became entangled in several fishing
lines, and struggled to stay afloat.
The big bird's struggles brought it nearer to
shore, and Shearer saw one of the pieces of line
entangling the osprey, who was visibly
weakening.
"When it finally got close enough," he said, "I
was able to retrieve the line and pull the
exhausted bird to shore."
Carefully distracting the osprey with one hand
and with a bit of help from another bystander,
he began snipping at the lines tangled around
the osprey's neck and wing with a pair of
fingernail clippers he'd retrieved from his
tackle box.
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Once freed,
the osprey spent time recovering ... |
Before long, the lines had all been released and
people on shore stood back and watched anxiously
as the beautiful but tousled bird recovered in
shallow water.
Shearer's effort paid off as the osprey soon
took to the air and flew gracefully out of
sight.
When asked why he'd risk a mauling from the
raptor's sharp beak and talons, Shearer's answer
was simple.
"I've spent countless hours sharing fishing
holes with osprey," he said, "and nobody wants
to lose a fishing buddy!" |
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... then, to
everyone's relief, spread its wings
before taking flight. |
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