Popcorn Park Shelter: 'Be Courteous' Of Marine Life

LACEY, NJ — The Associated Humane Popcorn Park Shelter is urging people to dispose of their personal waste after the animal refuge could not save a trapped seagull.

The shelter said Surf City police found the male bird tangled in fishing line. One of his legs fell off when he arrived at the animal refuge for wound treatment.

After being tightly wrapped in fishing line for a long time, the limb became necrotic. Due to the severity of injuries on both legs and malnourishment, the shelter said the bird did not survive.

Following the incident, the Popcorn Park Shelter urged people to be courteous and respectful of marine life by disposing personal waste.

“We see sad cases all the time and sometimes what caused injury to an animal was accidental, sometimes it was the sheer carelessness of humans,” the Popcorn Park Shelter said. “We're not talking about the accidental gear that ends up in our waters, we are talking about the careless people that are re-tying jigs and toss the leftover line in the water. Or when they spool up their reels and cut the line, and just throw the whole bunch of it in the water. There's no reason for it. It does not disintegrate.”

Popcorn Park cares for more than 450 animals, including exotic animals like tigers, monkeys and birds in their refuge, and adoptable animals like dogs, cats and rabbits in their shelter.

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