This young gull has a fishing lure hooked through its bill and monofilament line over its back and around its legs. I saw it at IR Inlet yesterday just before sunset and a few minutes later it was gone. The poor bird was in obvious pain. Fooled by the lure it now is severely hindered in its ability to survive winter days on the beach. Fisherman often snag their lines on the rocks as they fish in the inlet and it is likely that this bird saw what it thought was a tasty treat but now has a life threatening injury. Survival in nature is tough enough but this sad sight is a reminder that for so many animals debris in the marine environment can make it that much tougher.
