Wildlife Rescue ~ East Avon ~ Saturday ~ October 28th, 2006

Just before 8am on Saturday October 28th, 2006 the Livingston County Sheriff's Office E911 Center received a call for a bird, possibly a crane stuck in a tree and tangled in fish line, on Sackett Road near Linden Street in Avon.  Avon PD was dispatched and located the bird, a Great Blue Heron, hanging from a tree, just into the Town of Avon on Sackett Road.  The bird had fish line tangled around it legs.  The fish line went across the road, around another tree, back across the road again, over a branch, and a hook was in the Birds wing.  Avon PD stood by while the Livingston County Sheriff's Office and the NYS DEC were notified and responded.  Also notified was a Chief from the East Avon Fire Department to respond.  After consulting with area wild bird rehabilitators, it was learned that this was going to be a dangerous rescue, do to the large bill on the bird.  It was then decided that both East Avon and Avon's quints would be needed to perform the rescue.  Do to the danger involved, Avon Ambulance was requested to stand by at the scene.  East Avon's Quint 278 was used so the bird could relax and have a place to perch while Avon's Quint 228 was used to raise DEC Office Wade and DEC Bureau of Environmental Conservation Investigator Thomas to retrieve the bird.  After a successful rescue the bird was transported to a rehabilitator where the bird will be treated for any injuries, observed, and then released back into the wild when healed.  Great Blue Herons are a Federal Protected species which made the rescue a necessity.  Agencies at the scene were: East Avon Fire Department, Avon Fire Department, Avon Rotary ~ Lions Ambulance, Avon Village Police, Livingston County Sheriff's Office, and the NYS DEC.  Photos provided by Sgt. Pete Henry, Avon PD.