A young osprey that got tangled in a fishing line high in a tree on Marco Island is flying free again, thanks to a serious community effort and the team at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s von Arx Wildlife Hospital.
Back in early May, someone spotted the bird, just a juvenile, dangling around 75 feet off the ground. Brittany Piersma, a wildlife biologist with Audubon Western Everglades, rushed over to check things out and help organize a rescue.
Getting to the young osprey proved tricky. Audubon Western Everglades, the Marco Island Police Department, Fire Rescue, and Brian Beckner from Native Bird Boxes all tried to find a way up, but none of their gear would do. So they called in LCEC, the local electric company. LCEC moved fast, sending out a bucket truck. Two of their specialists, Dylan Goodwin and Quentin Lutz, were the ones who finally reached the bird and untangled it.
Goodwin put it simply: “We’re trained for emergencies—helping this osprey just felt right.” Lutz added, “It’s really good to know he’s back where he belongs.”
After the rescue, a volunteer affiliated with both the Conservancy and Audubon made sure the bird reached the von Arx Wildlife Hospital for the care and rehab it needed. Now, after some time recovering, the young osprey is back in the wild, ready to soar again. This entire episode is one more reminder of what’s possible when people work together, with determination and the right know-how.
