Goose Reunited With Mate After Fish Hook Injury In Prospect Park

BROOKLYN, NY — A goose was reunited with its mate in Prospect Park this week after being rehabilitated for a fish hook injury.

"The two ran over to each other and let out their little calls and then went swimming off together," said NYC Parks urban park ranger Ian Cleary, who facilitated the videotaped release Wednesday. "It was very successful."

The situation, though, could have been much more dire for the water fowl, who was found ten days before with a hook and fishing line in its foot — an injury that Cleary said is common in the city's parks, but can turn deadly.

"It doesn't always pose a risk to the animal's life, but the place where the hook is could get infected or the bird could cut itself pretty severely with the fishing line," he said.

In a worst case scenario, getting tangled in fishing line could be a death sentence for the park's birds.

"Sometimes they get so exhausted trying to pull away from a tangle of fishing line they end up drowning because they're not able to keep themselves up over the water," Cleary said. "That's something we've certainly seen a few times."

The goose — which was treated for its hook injury by The Wild Bird Fund — is not the first park fowl to be liberated from fishing equipment this year (or in years past).

In January, a swan that swallowed a fishing hook underwent a procedure at the Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic to get the hook removed. Several months later, another swan got a barbed-hook stuck in her bill and neck but was saved from "further hell" from an animal safety group.

Catch-and-release fishing is allowed in Prospect Park (with a permit), but Cleary said that people who litter equipment — whether by accident or intentionally — are often to blame in these situations.

"It's important to clean up hooks and lines when you're fishing, or if you see any in a park," he said.

Calling the appropriate people for help is also essential, the ranger noted.

"And if anybody sees a bird that looks like it's in distress or caught up in fishing line definitely call 311," Cleary said. "It's best to let the rangers or a certified animal rescuer take care of the animal, though."

As the weather gets warmer, Cleary is happy to see more people utilizing the city's parks, but said it's important to do so mindfully.

"It's great to see lots of folks coming out and exploring their. natural spaces, but it's important to remember that they are shared spaces," he said.

Related Article:

• Hooked Swan Saved From 'Further Hell' By Prospect Park Animal Group
• PHOTOS: City Swan Swallows Fish Hook, Gets Emergency Rescue