Temecula Firefighters Work To Rescue Entangled Heron At Local Lake

TEMECULA, CA — Firefighters went out of their way this week to attempt a rescue of a wild heron entangled in a fishing line at Harveston Lake in Temecula.

Though it was rushed to a local veterinarian specializing in wild birds, the heron was humanely euthanized hours later, Patch has learned.

It was an incident that could have been avoided, according to resident Lisa Berck, who captured the footage of the rescue, below.

On Tuesday, shortly after 1 p.m., Harveston Lake residents called for help when they heard the calling bird flapping in distress from one of the trees surrounding the lake. Cal Fire/Riverside County Firefighters from Temecula's Engine 73 arrived to assist animal control and brought the ladder truck to aid in the rescue of the heron.

One on-scene firefighter shared about the day's events, arriving to find the bird high in the tree with a fishing line wrapped around its neck.

"When we arrived, it was hanging from the string, flapping around a little, but it was obviously fatigued," he said.

Residents watched as the firefighters extended the ladder truck to the animal. They used a pike pole to pull the branch towards us so we could reach the bird, cut the string, and bring it down.

Animal Friends of the Valleys Animal Control officers then took the bird to the Care Animal Hospital for further care. There, the heron was humanely euthanized by the wild bird veterinarian after attempting to treat it, they told Patch. "It was in too much distress to survive," they said.

Harveston Lake is a catch-and-release lake where people can fish with a valid City of Temecula Fishing Permit. Residents under 16 can fish for free without a permit.

The city website states, "only artificial lures and barbless hooks are allowed. No bait. Fishing lines must be attended to at all times, and all fishing lines and hooks must be disposed of in the provided receptacles."

There are multiple line receptacles available across the park.

The sight of the large ladder fire engine at the lake drew a crowd, Berck said. She was proud to watch the firefighters at work but heartbroken to learn that the bird had died.

Still, this was not the first time she'd witnessed a bird entangled in a fishing line.

"Every day, there are people out there fishing," Berck said. "We see ducks getting hooks in their beaks and turtles caught up in the fishing line. It is terrible because we seriously have to see this so often that they don’t clean up after themselves, and sadly, sometimes these kids do these things on purpose for the thrill."

If you see a loose fishing line at the lake, please retrieve it and place it in the proper receptacle to ensure animal safety. If you see something, say something.

Residents can contact Animal Control at 951-471-8344, the City of Temecula Public Works Department at 951-694-6411, or the Southwest Sheriff's Station's non-emergency line at 951-696-3000.