SPCA of Monterey County Rescues Gull With Embedded Fish Hook

The SPCA Monterey County Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center rescued a western gull who was found with multiple fish hooks in his face, beak and wing. The gull had a hard plastic lure stuck to him, with three treble hooks. The hooks were embedded in the gull’s face, upper and lower beak, and left wing, making it impossible for him to eat or drink. The gull was rescued in Seaside in a yard on Noche Buena on March 7th. We had received reports about him in the days leading up to his rescue, but he was still able to fly and easily evade capture. We thank our compassionate community members who continued to contact us so we could capture and help him. The gull was emaciated and very dehydrated. Our skilled wildlife rescue team gave him pain medications, IV fluids, and antibiotics, and sedated him to remove the hooks and treat his wounds. The next day, the gull was alert and eating on his own, but still weak and needed weeks to recover. We are thrilled to share that he was released back into the wild yesterday at Seaside State Beach. See photos and video here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eYUTupE3NldPer-ibmfMLHG7pOerDTiL?usp=sharing. The SPCA asks that community members please dispose of broken or leftover fishing gear properly; never leave behind fishing line, hooks, lures, or bait. Most of our local fishing spots offer designated fishing gear disposal canisters. Do not release fish who still have hooks in them; if practicing catch and release, use barbless hooks. If you find an animal who is entangled in fishing line, please contact the SPCA. Please don’t try to remove barbed hooks yourself, as they can cause more damage. The SPCA Wildlife Center is available for emergency wildlife rescues 24 hours a day. To report injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife in Monterey County, please call 831-264-5427. Every year, the SPCA Wildlife Center rescues over 2,500 injured or orphaned wild animals. This work only is made possible thanks to your compassionate donations. To give to help, please visit www.SPCAmc.org/donate. The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. We operate under permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Your support is extremely important to us, as we are not a chapter or any other agency and we do not have a parent organization. Everything we do is made possible by you. SPCA Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. The SPCA is not a chapter of any other agency and does not have a parent organization. They shelter homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock, and provide humane education and countless other services to the community. They are the local agency you call to investigate animal cruelty, rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and aid domestic animals in distress. Online: www.SPCAmc.org Facebook: /SPCAmc Instagram: @SPCAmc Twitter: @SPCAmc