{"id":16292,"date":"2024-11-14T14:04:10","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T21:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/?p=16292"},"modified":"2024-11-14T14:09:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T21:09:43","slug":"catch-fish-not-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/2024\/11\/14\/catch-fish-not-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"Anglers – catch the fish, keep the birds free"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nov. 14, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHOENIX \u2014 The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds anglers of the importance of proper fishing line (monofilament) disposal after AZGFD biologists remove a tangled fledgling from the wild and take it to wildlife rehabilitators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nest watchers at Willow Springs Lake noticed the eaglet with fishing line wrapped around one of its legs. AZGFD biologists tried multiple times, but were unable to safely access the nest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo we had to wait until it fledged,\u201d said Kenneth \u201cTuk\u201d Jacobson, AZGFD raptor management coordinator. \u201cOnce it took its first flight, we were able to capture it and found that the fishing line had caused a severe wound to the eagle\u2019s leg.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eagle was taken to Liberty Wildlife for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery, but not every animal is as lucky. Fishing line can immobilize wildlife by wrapping around its legs or by securing it to a stationary object, but starvation is the most common demise: the line wraps around the animal’s neck or accumulates in their stomach, preventing the ingestion of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFishing line can last up to 600 years in the environment,\u201d said Jacobson. \u201cWhether you\u2019re fishing or just encounter some monofilament while enjoying the outdoors, disposing of fishing line properly is an easy and lifesaving thing to do for Arizona\u2019s wildlife.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any trash can will do, and, thanks to the Monofilament Recovery Program<\/a>, there are also at least 85 recycling bins for fishing line at lakes and rivers throughout the state, targeting bald eagle breeding areas and high-use recreation sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with properly disposing of used fishing line, Jacobson has these tips for anglers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n