On a warm, sunny afternoon in Southwest Florida, one paddleboarder’s peaceful day on the water suddenly turned into a life-saving mission.
From a distance, she noticed what looked like a tangled clump of feathers drifting nearby. But as she paddled closer, she saw something that made her heart sink — the bundle was breathing.
It was an osprey, exhausted and struggling to stay afloat. The bird’s feathers were soaked, and a length of fishing line had ensnared her wings and tethered her to a web of mangrove roots.
“The osprey was entangled in fishing line, and her feathers were waterlogged, so she was unable to fly,” the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) shared on Facebook.
Realizing the bird’s life hung in the balance, the paddleboarder gently lifted her from the water and immediately called CROW for help.
Within minutes, volunteer rescuer Phyllis Hermann arrived by boat. She carefully freed the osprey from the mangroves, secured her in a rescue box, and rushed her to CROW’s wildlife hospital for treatment.
“At CROW, we removed the line and treated her for minor injuries and dehydration,” the clinic wrote.
You can see more footage from her rescue here:
But as the veterinary team examined the bird, they noticed something concerning.
“When listening with a stethoscope, we noted increased respiratory effort and harsh lung sounds, possibly from inhaling water while struggling,” CROW said. “She’s currently on systemic antibiotics and in good body condition, so we expect she’ll make a full recovery.”
Thanks to the paddleboarder’s quick thinking and CROW’s expert care, the osprey was saved just in time. She’ll remain under observation until she’s strong enough to return to her wild home among the mangroves.
CROW hopes her story will remind everyone how dangerous discarded fishing gear can be — and how easily it can turn deadly for wildlife.
“As always, this is a sobering reminder that improperly discarded fishing line is more than just an eyesore,” the clinic wrote. “It can trap, injure, and kill our native and migratory wildlife. Mind your line and fish responsibly.”
To support the care of rescued animals like this osprey, you can donate to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) here.
