Osprey Tangled 75 Feet Up Rescued, Returned to Wild

When an osprey got tangled in fishing line 75 feet up in a Marco Island tree, freeing it took a village with some serious equipment.

The young bird was spotted hanging helplessly in May, and wildlife officials knew they needed more than a ladder. Brittany Piersma, a wildlife biologist with Audubon Western Everglades, called in backup from the Marco Island Police Department, Fire Rescue, and LCEC, the local electric company.

LCEC responded with a bucket truck, the kind crews use to repair power lines during storms. Dylan Goodwin and Quentin Lutz, two line specialists, rode up to safely cut the bird free.

"We're trained to respond to emergency situations, and helping the osprey was just the right thing to do," Goodwin said. Lutz added that knowing the bird made it back to the wild made the effort worthwhile.

Once on the ground, volunteers rushed the osprey to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. The bird had minor cuts and an injury to one toe from struggling against the line.

Hospital staff treated the wounds with antibiotics and pain medication while monitoring recovery. After a few days, the osprey moved to a flight enclosure where it could build strength alongside other recovering birds.

Several weeks later, the osprey was ready. Staff released it back into the wild, healthy and strong.

The Ripple Effect

This rescue shows what happens when communities work together for wildlife. Fishing line entanglements are common in Southwest Florida, injuring thousands of birds each year.

The von Arx Wildlife Hospital treats more than 3,500 injured, sick, and orphaned animals annually. Each one depends on quick community action and expert care to survive.

"From entanglement injuries to orphaned baby wildlife, each patient relies on specialized medical care, dedicated staff, and community support to recover and return to the wild," said Lauren Barkley, the hospital's associate director. When everyday people spot trouble and experts drop what they're doing to help, more animals get their shot at freedom.

This osprey is flying proof that caring matters.