Anglers issued warning after discarded fishing line kills swan in Forth Valley loch
dailyrecord.co.ukAnglers are being urged not to discard fishing equipment in a bid to protect wildlife.The call comes after a cygnet died after becoming tangled in fishing line at a Forth Valley loch last year.The SSPCA and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) are urging people to discard of fishing equipment responsibly.FLS, which manages Larbert loch, near Forth Valley Royal Hospital, does not permit fishing in the area.
In October last year, the SSPCA was called to the loch to rescue a cygnet that was tangled in fishing line and sadly died.SSPCA inspector, Mairi Wright, said: “We were alerted to the distressed cygnet when a member of the public noticed the bird appeared to be struggling at the side of the loch.
When we attended, we discovered that the cygnet was tangled in hooks on a fishing line. The hooks had also collected litter, weighing the baby bird down even more.“The bird had hooks in his head, cheek and tongue, which would have caused him a great deal of pain and distress.“It took us a few visits to catch the cygnet but we were eventually successful and took him for veterinary treatment.“Sadly he died under anaesthetic after the vet had operated.”Now they are joining forces to plead with anglers to properly dispose of used equipment.Mairi added: “Items thrown into lochs or ponds can cause serious injuries to these large birds.
Swans can become tangled in fishing wire or nets that are not disposed of properly. They can also mistake fishing hooks or bait for food and try to swallow them, causing serious injuries.“Although the majority of anglers are very responsible and take care to clear away their equipment after they’ve used it, there is a minority of people who fish and don’t respect the environment and the wildlife that
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