Distressed walker finds baby seagull impaled by fishing hooks

Deborah Munn Demangel was taking an evening stroll at Lady Bee Wharf in Southwick Locks when she heard a strange flapping sound.

The 61-year-old from Mile Oak said: “I looked down and there was a bird in distress by some rocks. I thought it might be caught up in plastic as it couldn’t get up.

“I was distressed for it and felt I couldn’t just go home so I called up a load of wildlife rescue numbers. I had to persevere as it was after 9pm.

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“Someone directed me to a wildlife Facebook group so I posted pictures there and the people in the group are so dedicated that someone appeared really quickly.”

The younger seagull had fishing hooks through one foot and one nostril

A volunteer from West Sussex Wildlife Protection was able to reach the gull but on lifting it realised it was heavier than she thought it would be.

Deborah said: “It turned out there were two gulls trapped – an adult was attached to a fledgling gull.

“The adult seagull had swum caught in a line with fishing weight and it had a hook through its foot. It looked like the baby had been strangled. It was horrible.

“Luckily the tide was out and the adult had survived, but it’s likely foxes would have had him if we hadn’t got there.

“I was just so grateful the wildlife rescue volunteer could come down to help.

The adult seagull was sedated and the fishing hook removed, but Wildlife Rescue volunteers say it was lucky to have survived

“When you see it it really brings it home about how negligent we are – the wildlife doesn’t stand a chance. People need to think more about their actions.”

The dead fledgling gull was found to have two fishing hooks through one of its feet and one nostril, while the adult gull also had a hook through one foot.

Both birds were entangled and attached to an artificial fish weight, which was about 12cm long.

The artificial fish weight

The adult gull was taken to Grove Lodge Vets in Brighton and sedated so the hook could be removed.

The volunteer for West Sussex Wildlife Rescue who did not wish to be named said: “It’s likely the adult gull had gone for the artificial fish weight.

"The dead one would have gone through excruciating pain trying to get out of the hooks while drowning.

“It’s horrific really. I was shocked and angry because it’s so unnecessary – fishermen and anglers need to be more careful.

“It’s really common for dogs and birds to get caught in fishing hooks. Gulls are so persecuted but this is where they live.”