Reporter: Bridget Bruchalski
•6/26/2026
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WINK)—An osprey was rescued after being found dangling nearly 75 feet in the air, tangled in fishing line.
Lee County Electric Cooperative crews were lifted to reach the bird, which was trapped at about the height of a six-story building. Lauren Barkluy, associate director at Monarchs Wildlife Hospital, said the location made the rescue challenging.
"There was nothing that maybe a tree trimmer could climb," Barkluy said. "You would really need a lift to try to get up and then over to get this bird."
The young osprey was left hanging upside down from a fishing line, unable to escape. Barkluy said time was critical.
"Time is really of the essence when these animals are tangled in line and especially dangling from a tree," Barkluy said.
Once rescued, the bird was rushed to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Barkluy said the osprey was exhausted from the ordeal.
"The bird was honestly exhausted; it had been through a lot, it was hanging from a line upside down," Barkluy said. "We gave him some time to decompress on oxygen—then once he was able to be relaxed, we started our treatment."
Treatment included pain medication, antibiotics, and care for the wounds left behind. Barkluy said the injuries were significant.
"There was an encircling wound around the toe, and he did have some abrasions on his wrist from the struggle," Barkluy said.
The osprey was then placed in an outdoor enclosure to test whether it could fly and survive on its own. After a few strong flaps and sharp turns, the bird passed the test and was released back into the wild.
"Once they're feeling good, they don't want to be in our care; they want to be out in the wild, and so we always try to accomplish that," Barkluy said.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida reports about 300 wildlife patients come in every year due to fishing line entanglement. The majority of those patients are birds.
Officials encourage anglers to clean up after themselves and not leave bait, tackle, or line behind. Beachgoers are also urged to pick up any litter they see, as it takes just one strand of fishing line to turn deadly for wildlife.
