It’s not every day a gull becomes the focus of a rescue mission, but an exhausted bird struggling in the Puntledge River brought two Comox Valley volunteers to the water this weekend. The bird, nicknamed Kris, had become tangled in fishing line and was unable to get itself to safety. Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) reached out to Comox Valley Search and Rescue (SAR) for help getting to the bird. Using a kayak to reach the stranded gull, the volunteers managed to gently scoop it up with a net and bring it back to shore. A MARS representative was waiting with a transport carrier to take the bird to the organization’s rehabilitation centre. Although this type of rescue is not part of the SAR team’s typical search and rescue operations, members used the call as a training opportunity and a chance to support another local organization. “We’ve helped dogs, horses and sheep over the years, but this was a first for Comox Valley Search & Rescue,” the organization said in a social media post. The incident also highlights a preventable threat to wildlife around local waterways. SAR says a discarded fishing line can become a dangerous snare for birds and other animals, leaving them injured, exhausted or unable to free themselves. Anglers are encouraged to retrieve and properly dispose of gear to help prevent similar encounters. MARS Wildlife Rescue cares for injured and distressed wild birds and relies on community support to continue its work. More information about its rehabilitation efforts is available at marswildliferescue.com.
