Lead Loon: Surgery, Recovery, & RELEASE!

We have spectacular news on the lead filled loon! 

Our staff & loon breathed a sigh of relief at the Antigo Veterinary Clinic this past week as an operation was completed to remove the lead sinkers. We crossed our fingers as the loon underwent a procedure that has only been completed a handful of times in avian rehabilitation history!!! This blog is a recap of the procedure, recovery, and RELEASE!!!!!!

For those of you who are not aware of the loon's story, he was found washed up in a marina unaware of his surroundings. Upon being admitted to the REGI clinic, the loon's blood lead levels were so high our device had no way of knowing what the true level was, and the X-ray a day later confirmed our fears. The loon had 2 lead sinkers in its gizzard. A death sentence for any loon not brought in for treatment. To add to the loons growing list of problems, he came in with a severe case of avian botulism.

 The loon upon arrival into the REGI clinic. Lethargic, thin, and extremely high lead levels

 X-rays at the vet clinic showed 2 lead fishing sinkers in the loon's gizzard

 Loon eyes are a beautiful maroon color. Not too often can you see them so closely. This individual loon is beginning to molt it's feathers

Lead poisoning is treated with several series of daily injections, and can take anywhere from weeks to months to see real results depending on the species and how severe the case is.

After a week of trying everything in our power to get the sinkers out, we knew that it was time to take some drastic measures for this bird to have a chance at recovery. We brought the loon in to the Antigo Veterinary Clinic and thus began a physically and emotionally grueling afternoon. The loon was sedated as a tube was fed through its mouth and down to its stomach. Water was then rushed through the tube and into the loons system where it began to pop out pebble, after pebble, after pebble. Just as it seemed like the treatment would show no results, lone behold, 2 lead sinkers sat among the rocks on the table.

The air in the room was tense, but a huge wave of relief flooded the REGI and vet clinic staff.

IT GETS BETTER!!!!! 

After monitoring his progress and declining lead levels this week, he was released today (8/17) by the interns! His release is a huge relief to the REGI crew. "I've never seen a loon that close before," said intern Molly. Neither had the rest of the REGI interns. To see a loon that close means that they really are feeling down-in-the-dumps. Loons, for obvious reasons, don't fair well in captivity, and we are happy to see him headed home to the open water! 

The following is a string of photos from the procedure, recovery, and release

 After arrival at the veterinary clinic, the loon was carefully sedated by veterinarian Sarah with help from our Turkish veterinarian Aysegul & interns Molly and Sarah

 Veterinarian Sarah feeds the tube into the loon's mouth. Water will be pushed through the tube in hopes of pushing out the two lead sinkers

 Oxygen is given to the loon following the procedure

 After the procedure, Turkish veterinarian Aysegul checks the loon's vitals as interns Alyssa, Molly, and Sarah hope for a successful recovery

 The two sinkers and one of the several rocks that were pushed out of the loon's system

After fully waking up from the anesthesia, the loon quickly returned to fishing for minnows in the REGI clinic

It's a great feeling to be able to watch the loon catch fish knowing there's no lead sinkers left in his system. He makes quick work of a tub filled with minnows

The Antigo Vet Clinic team accompanied by interns Alyssa, Molly, and Sarah, executive director Marge Gibson, and our visiting Turkish veterinarian Aysegul! GREAT JOB LADIES!

 Interns Alyssa, Molly, Sarah, and Turkish veterinarian Aysegul wishing the loon safe travels!

Please, please, please think about switching to non-lead tackle & ammunition. 

Cases like this are 100% preventable, and YOU have the power to change it!

For alternatives to lead tackle click here.

For alternatives to lead ammunition click here.

A HUGE thank you to the Antigo Veterinary Clinic for their hard work and patience through this case and the countless others that they have helped us out with.

To donate to the Raptor Education Group, Inc.'s patients , CLICK HERE!

- Katie Rymer, Assistant Avian Rehabilitator

Pickerel Fire and Rescue Squad Cold Water Team Rescues Loon on Duck Lake

( Photo: The Pickerel Fire and Rescue Department arrives on the scene and begins to don their cold water rescue suits and prepare the gear.)

Woo Hoo!!! The Pickerel Fire and Rescue Department Cold Water Rescue Team has done it again!! Last year they saved an adult male Common Loon from a lake near Eagle River, WI and this year...

Everyone knows firefighters are brave. If we needed more proof I watched their bravery in action this morning. They are such incredible professionals and there is no one better with cold water rescue. A team of seven men and women assembled at 8:30 sharp at Duck Lake. Then just like the story of Santa Claus, they "set right to their work".

Before I knew it they had the craft inflated, safety lines attached, the team was suited up and they were making their way 150 feet to the stranded loon in a very small opening of Duck Lake.


( Photo: And they are off to the rescue! The loon is in the slightly darkened area far beyond the team. It was a long way to go on thin ice.)
The ice was thin, too thin I thought for this fine team to put their own lives in danger to rescue a loon, no matter how beautiful the loon and compelling the story. I started waffling about if this was a good idea when I heard ice had formed only days before. They checked the ice thickness. They agreed it was thin but were confident they would be OK. This was going to be good "training" for them they said. It was good training, I will give them that. Better to train on a loon rather than to have a person in the water in an emergency situation. However, they are still some wonderful individuals to help us with a wildlife crisis.


( Photo: The Pickerel Fire and Rescue Squad Cold Water Rescue Team on their way to rescue the loon.)



( Photo: The ice was so thin the team had to crawl on hands and knees to the loon.)

About this time I started seriously holding my breath and praying.



( Photo: And Howie nets him! Have you ever tried to net a loon from a hole in a mostly frozen lake while laying on you belly? NOT EASY FOLKS! )



( Photo: Back on land with a loon in the box and cold water rescue team safe.)


( Photo: A loon in the box and safe on land.)




Photo: Safe in my arms the loon with his heroes. ( Pickerel Fire and Rescue Squad, Howard Cadle, Rob Aderholdt, Dick White, Karen Kummer, Brady Cook, Beth Gravitter, Brennan Cook, Dave St.John, Cathy St.John)



( Photo: YEA team!! )



( Photo: The adult male Common Loon back at REGI eating some minnows in the bathtub. (in winter plumage, loons lose that beautiful black and white checker pattern in the winter so they can blend into their environment better.)

What a morning it has been! We didn't know until last night that the loon was in trouble. With the serious weather coming in this afternoon I didn't think we had a chance to get this guy out of his predicament. The residents of the lake have been watching the loon family. The male injured his wing months ago. His long time mate ( 20 yrs so?) stayed until late November but had to leave to save herself by that time. By the time his wing was well the loon was in poor muscle condition and did not have the physical strength to take off the lake. Any time there is a fracture of a limb no matter if it is in a human or a loon, the muscle tone is compromised. That is where physical therapy comes in. For this Common Loon, the physical therapy would have been flying. It was like a domino effect.
Now he will have good food and then a trip to the Gulf of Mexico soon to rejoin his mate and have the winter to regain his flight for the trip home in spring.

Thanks seems pale for what the Pickerel Fire and Rescue did today. You are just the BEST and we are so very grateful! To top it off they are a volunteer department. Pickerel is very lucky to have these fine professionals a phone call away.

Howie was very clear that they were happy to help with stranded animals so they don't have to save a person that attempts to save an animal themselves. Each year we have situations where people try to get geese or other animals that have gone through thin ice. And every year we have close calls with people breaking through ice early in the winter and late in the spring. This is a job for professionals and should never be attempted by people no matter how compelling the case.

Marge Gibson © 2009