Owl dies after discarded fishing line leaves him hanging by a wing over Rochdale Canal

Date published: 06 September 2023

The RSPCA is once again highlighting the devastating impact that fishing litter can have on wildlife after a tawny owl became entangled in line and later died from his ordeal.

A member of the public contacted the charity after spotting the stricken bird hanging by his wing from the branch of a tree overhanging the Rochdale Canal at Clegg Hall Road in Littleborough.

RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) David Cottingham initially attended the scene before contacting his colleague, inspector Deborah Beats, who entered the water wearing a dry suit to try and rescue the owl, which was successfully captured using a special extending pole.

The bird was taken to a local veterinary practice to be assessed, where a fishing hook was also removed from one of his wings. Sadly his condition deteriorated and he later died, most likely from shock and trauma.

The incident, which happened last Tuesday (29 August), comes after the RSPCA revealed it had received 1,245 calls about fishing litter across England and Wales last year, with around half (614 or 49.3%) of these calls made between June and September.

Greater Manchester was one of the worst affected counties with 71 incidents. Staffordshire (75), Merseyside (60), the West Midlands (58) and Greater London (56) also received high numbers of reports.

ARO Cottingham said: “We work hard to rescue as many of these stricken animals as we can. Thankfully, many can be saved, but a lot of care, treatment and rehabilitation may be needed as a result. Others, like this owl, aren’t so lucky, and sometimes their injuries, or the sheer stress and exhaustion from their ordeal proves too much.

“Incidents like this are especially disheartening when there is such a simple solution: clear up your litter - whether it’s fishing-related or general - and take it home with you. Many experienced anglers are very responsible when it comes to wildlife and taking care of their equipment, but we would urge those who may be new to the activity to be extra cautious about making sure they clear up.”

In recent months RSPCA officers have also rescued a pigeon which was trapped by discarded line in a tree at a reservoir in Edgeley, and a swan from a fishing lake in Middleton which had a hole in its tongue after being pierced by a fishing hook with a ball weight. Both of them survived.
 

Read more: Swan and pigeon rescues prompt RSPCA to reiterate warning over discarded fishing litterPublished: 25 April 2023

The RSPCA urges all anglers to follow the Angling Trust’s Take 5 campaign and make use of the recycling scheme to dispose of waste tackle and line.

Best practice guidelines include:

• Take old fishing line and spools to recycling points in local tackle shops or fisheries. Your nearest recycling point can be found on the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) website. Alternatively, old fishing line can be posted to the address on the ANLRS page.
• Be aware of surrounding trees – discarded line caught in foliage causes problems for wildlife.
• Don’t leave bait unattended – always remove it from the hook and put it in a safe place.
• Use a reusable bait container. Don’t take bait in tins.
• Dispose of any litter you see, even if it’s not your own.

For further advice about what to do if you find an injured wild animal, visit the RSPCA’s website.