During my regular wildlife photography outing at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I came across a Great Blue Heron that had a fishing lure stuck in its foot. This majestic bird was standing in shallow water, staring intently at the water below, looking for its next meal. As I positioned myself to get some photos, I noticed something shiny in its left foot. At first I thought it was a band, but as I zoomed in with my camera, I realized it was a fishing lure – and a large one at that.
The twin treble hooks of the lure were embedded deep into the heron’s foot, clearly causing it pain and making it difficult for the bird to stand steadily. My heart sank, knowing that this injury would make it extremely challenging for this Great Blue to survive in the wild. As a wildlife photographer and lover of nature, I felt compelled to do something to help, but getting close enough to rescue the bird would be nearly impossible and quite dangerous.
Upon leaving the refuge, I reported the injured heron to the staff. I’m hopeful they can come up with a plan to capture and rehabilitate this beautiful bird. Removing that hook safely won’t be easy, but I’m trusting the experts know what they’re doing. My fingers are crossed that this Great Blue Heron can make a full recovery and be released back into the refuge once healed. I’ll be sure to provide an update here if I hear any news. In the meantime, I’ll be thinking positive thoughts for this heron’s recovery.
A Follow Up Post: Heron Eating Well With An Injury
Image Information:
- Date: 6/19/2021
- Time: 9:48 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 800
- ISO: 3200
- Aperture: 11
- Shutter: 1/500
- Exp. Comp.: -0.3
- Program: Manual