Jogger sees owl hanging from power pole, and crews come to rescue cutting away fishing line

A routine jog on Oct. 16 in Mesa, Arizona, turned into a wildlife rescue after a runner spotted an owl hanging by one wing from a power pole along a walking trail.

Here's what to know

Because the entanglement involved power infrastructure, both emergency responders and utility workers were needed for the rescue. Mesa Fire's Engine 201 joined Salt River Project crews and worked together to remove the line and lower the bird carefully to the ground. 

The fire department shared the story in a Facebook update. It wrote, "When crews arrived, they found the owl suspended by one wing, alert, and responsive to its surroundings." 

The department added that "Salt River Project crews cut the fishing line and carefully lowered the bird. Working together, SRP and Engine 201 crew members secured the owl in a blanket to keep it calm and prevent further injury. The owl was kept secure until SRP's dedicated avian protection specialist arrived and took it for transport and care."

Fire officials added that if you ever encounter an animal that appears to be in trouble near power lines, people should keep their distance and call 911.

One commenter below the Mesa Fire Department's post wrote, "Just passing on information… The owl was transferred to Liberty Wildlife for evaluation and it was found to have very minimal injury. It is likely going to be re-released in the area it was found within a few days."

What can be done?

Waste as minor as a small piece of litter at walking trails and fishing spots can still have serious consequences. In this case, the discarded fishing line endangered an owl, triggered an emergency response, and required follow-up care.

Luckily there was no fatality in this situation, but there could have been if the jogger hadn't reported the situation or if crews hadn't acted quickly.

Properly disposing of fishing line can help prevent birds and other wildlife from becoming entangled. And acting when you see something wrong can help keep animals safe from manmade traps too.

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