Two fire crews rescued seagull trapped in tree

Firefighters were called out to rescue a seagull which had become tangled up in fishing wire in a tree. The incident happened at Sindings Pond in Bedworth, Warwickshire, at 9.40am on Tuesday. Louise Labram, RSPCA inspector, was called to the scene by a concerned member of the public. After assessing the situation, she called Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.



The fire service water rescue team attended the scene alongside crews from Rugby and Bedworth. A spokeswoman from the fire service said: “Because of the birds location, firefighters were called to help out and to free it from its predicament.” Inspector Labram said: “The gull was rescued with a net and the fire crews cut the fishing line which was caught up in the gull's wing and around the tree branch. As expected, the gull was very weak and I could see a lot of blood on the wing and damage to his leg.





“However, I took him to a local vet where they confirmed the wing was dislocated and the only option was euthanasia." Inspector Labram praised the fire service though for their compassion and their attempts to rescue the animal in difficult circumstances. She added: "I was overwhelmed when the crew came out to assist me. It not only showed an understanding that the situation was an emergency but also an appreciation to animal welfare. They were very professional and rescued the gull promptly and efficiently, alleviating its suffering.



“I am so grateful that Warwickshire Fire & Rescue worked alongside the RSPCA and I thank everyone involved.” Now the RSPCA is urging people to dispose of fishing lines properly to avoid another incident of this nature. Inspector Labram said: “This would have been very distressing for the gull and it could have so easily been avoided if someone had disposed of their fishing line correctly in the first place. This is a reminder of how damaging discarded fishing litter can be for wildlife. All it takes is a little thought and care - and a life could be saved.”