Wednesday, July 25, 2007
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Angela Speed
(414) 431-6104 aspeed@wihumane.org

 

 

Anglers Catch More Than Fish in Wisconsin Parks

 

MILWAUKEE - Vancouver was probably minding his own business when he got tangled up in someone’s old fishing line at Brown Deer Park. When wildlife rescuers from the Wisconsin Humane Society arrived to help the poor gosling, his limbs had already been strangulated. Although Vancouver made it to WHS safely, other wild animals are not so lucky and needlessly suffer due to littered fishing line. WHS expects to see 15-30 fishing line injuries this summer alone. However, these injuries can easily be prevented.

As anglers flock to the water with tackle box and pole in hand, the Wisconsin Humane Society would like to remind citizens to be on alert for fishing line and tackle left over by others. Carelessly discarded fishing tackle causes crippling injuries and sometimes death to wild birds, turtles and mammals in Wisconsin.

Please review these tips to help wild animals survive fishing season:

• If you live near the water, occasionally walk along the shoreline to look for fishing line and lures.
• If you find fishing line, carefully cut the line into pieces less than six inches long and throw it in the trash.
• Use non-toxic fishing weights and sinkers instead of those made of lead. Lead is a highly toxic metal that causes the deaths of many wild birds, especially waterfowl in Wisconsin each year.
• If you see an animal caught in fishing line, please call us for further advice at (414) 431- 6204.
• Join our park patrol! We need people to patrol one or more of our county park ponds once per week during the late spring, summer and fall to look for and pick up fishing line to help protect wildlife. Email WHS at wildlife@wihumane.org if interested.

“We think anglers would dispose of fishing line responsibly if they knew the problems they were causing,” says Wisconsin Wildlife Manager, Scott Diehl. Diehl believes that a little education and more conscientious behavior will go a long way to keeping wildlife safe from fishing line injuries this summer.

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Photo/Filming Opportunity: A WHS Wildlife representative is available to answer questions regarding fishing line injuries and Vancouver’s status. Vancouver is also available for filming and/or photos. Please contact Angela Speed at 414.431.6104 or aspeed@wihumane.org to schedule an appointment.