Unattended lines, a hazard to wildlife

Ben writes:

To all the scumbags who feel it is OK to leave a line in the water unattended, not caring what happens to it, please read on.

I was walking down a track on the Yarra, past a popular fishing spot in Warrandyte. My attention was drawn to something moving in the reeds near the water. On closer inspection, I saw a waterfowl there, which began to panic as I approached.

Wondering why it had not just flown off, I had a good look at it, and noticed it tangled up in fishing line. I decided to try and untangle this poor animal. It was well and truly tied up in the stuff, and it took me a while to get it out.

Then I noticed what really pissed me off. The line went inside the birds beak. It was hooked with no way of getting out. I cut it off, and took it to the local vet. In the meantime, the bird shat itself, literally. My point is, if it had not been rescued, it would have starved to death, maybe fallen prey to a fox, or the like.

Obviously whoever set the line, left it, forgot about it and didn't give a rats.
(22 February 2002)

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