A Leucistic Hawk Entangled in Fishing Line

Back in October, our Raptor Hospital team received an urgent call about a Red-shouldered Hawk trapped in fishing line and hanging nearly 10 feet in the air above a pond. Acting quickly, one of our dedicated Raptor Rescue Team volunteers drove out to Statesville to assess the situation and begin a wildlife rescue.

Upon arrival, our volunteer discovered the rescue was far more complicated than expected. The hawk wasn’t just suspended 10 feet above the water. It was also approximately 20 feet offshore. E After several hours and with critical assistance from the local fire department, our volunteer weas finally able to safely reach the bird, cut it free from the entangled fishing line, and transport it to our Raptor Hospital for treatment.

Unique Feathers

When Patient #27419 arrived at the Raptor Hospital, our staff knew the bird had endured hours of intense struggling. During the intake exam, staff noted the hawk’s unique coloring: this Red-shouldered Hawk is leucistic. Leucism is a genetic condition that causes partial loss of pigmentation. While it’s often compared to albinism, leucistic animals still retain some pigment and typically display scattered white patches where pigmentation is absent.

This condition usually doesn’t cause health problems, but it can make animals more vulnerable to predators due to reduced camouflage in the wild.

Removing the Fishing Line & Treatment

During Patient #27419’s intake exam, our team carefully removed the fishing line and identified one major injury. The wing that had been tightly wrapped appeared to have lost blood flow due to prolonged constriction. We were deeply concerned about the hawk’s prognosis, as several hours without proper circulation can cause severe tissue damage. However, we decided to give the wing time to respond to treatment and closely monitored the bird’s condition.

The hawk received fluids, pain medication, and medications to help improve blood flow. For nearly two weeks, our team performed daily physical therapy and applied warm packs to the injured wing to help restore circulation and promote healing.

Recovery Progress

Now, more than 40 days later, Red-shouldered Hawk #27419 has begun practicing flight again. The bird will continue to undergo supervised exercise until our staff determines its stamina and flight ability have returned to a level that will allow it to survive and hunt successfully in the wild.

How You Can Help Protect Wildlife

Fishing line entanglement is a common and preventable cause of injury for birds and other wildlife. You can help prevent similar incidents by always picking up fishing line, hooks, and other materials when you go fishing or when you see them left behind by others. Many docks and marinas offer specific receptacles to dispose of fishing line and prevent it from harming wildlife. A few extra moments can make a life-saving difference for wildlife!