“[S]he was unable to fly” 💔
By Ashley Ortiz
Published on Oct 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
It was a sunny, warm day in Southwest Florida last month when an unsuspecting paddleboarder suddenly made a frightening discovery. She spotted a ball of feathers floating in the water from afar, and as she paddled closer, she realized it was a wild bird in desperate need of help.
“The osprey was entangled in fishing line, and her feathers were waterlogged, so she was unable to fly,” Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) wrote on Facebook.
The woman was heartbroken to find an osprey wrapped in fishing line, which had become tethered to the surrounding tree roots. It was unclear how long the bird had been trapped, but the paddleboarder knew time was of the essence to save her life.
She scooped the bird out of the water and instantly called CROW for help.
CROW volunteer Phyllis Hermann rushed to the scene in a rescue boat and began freeing the bird from the mangroves as soon as she arrived. Once untethered from the trees, she placed the osprey in a rescue box and shuttled straight to CROW’s wildlife hospital for the second phase of the rescue.
“At CROW, we removed the line and treated her for minor injuries and dehydration,” CROW wrote.
You can see more footage from her rescue here:
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCROWClinic%2Fvideos%2F1176061667680088%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0
While treating the osprey, CROW’s veterinary team noticed something concerning about her breathing, which provided them with more insight into what she had gone through before being rescued.
“When listening with a stethoscope (auscultation), we noted increased respiratory effort and harsh lung sounds, possibly from inhaling water while struggling,” CROW wrote. “She’s currently on systemic antibiotics and is in good body condition, so we expect she’ll make a full recovery.”
Thankfully, the osprey was found just in time by a compassionate paddleboarder and taken to the best hospital for her needs. While she’s still on the mend, the folks at CROW are confident she will fully recover soon and return to her home in the mangroves.
CROW staff can’t wait to see the osprey return home. Until then, they hope that sharing the bird’s story will inspire more people to be proactive about disposing of fishing line properly and help prevent similar accidents in the future.
“As always, this is a sobering reminder that improperly discarded fishing line is more than just an eyesore. It can trap, injure, and kill our native and migratory wildlife,” CROW wrote. “Mind your line and fish responsibly!”
To help animals like this osprey get the care they need, you can donate to Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) here.
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Rescuers Jump After Finding A ‘Little Gargoyle’ Staring At Them On The Street
“[He was] the frowniest little guy …”
By Ashley Ortiz
Days before Halloween last year, the folks at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) came across an eerie sight in their community. While driving through a residential neighborhood, they discovered a dark figure with a strange posture staring at them.
“He was hunched up like a little gargoyle …” SRSL wrote on Facebook.
At a glance, the curious animal could’ve been mistaken for a Halloween decoration — but the SRSL rescuers instantly knew he was a pup who needed help. They swiftly parked the car and began approaching the dog.
“[He was] the frowniest little guy,” SRSL wrote. “He was very scared and clearly had some pain.”
As scared as he was, the dog, later named Guillermo de la Cruz, was in too much pain to bolt. He stayed still as the rescue team, led by SRSL’s chief life saving officer, Donna Lochmann, got close enough to slip a leash around his neck.
Guillermo de la Cruz remained nervous as his rescuers led him to the car, but once they placed him on the seat, he settled in with a deep sigh of relief.
“[A]s soon as he realized he was safe in the car, he relaxed,” SRSL wrote. “You are safe, you big, sweet angel.”
The sweet boy arrived at SRSL’s headquarters later that day, where he received around-the-clock care for his wounds and low body weight. With consistent medicine and nonstop love from all of SRSL’s staff, Guillermo de la Cruz soon healed into the happy and thriving chunky pup he was always meant to be.
“Guillermo de la Cruz is a show-stopper wherever he goes!” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “This choco chonk of a baby doll boy has permanent puppy eyes and a record-breaking-sized noggin!”
Within two months of his rescue, Guillermo de la Cruz had undergone a stunning physical transformation. But the sweet boy didn’t just change on the outside — his fearful spirit healed, too.
“His heart is made of butter and melts for any doggo or person he meets,” SRSL wrote.
Finally, Guillermo de la Cruz was ready for adoption, and it wouldn’t be long before his perfect match came along. After enjoying some time in a wonderful foster home, Guillermo de la Cruz scored an amazing family, complete with parents and siblings who wanted nothing more than to love him.
“He now has two fur brothers (Jax [and] Flex), a fur sister (Lucy), and a mom and dad who are totally nuts about him,” SRSL wrote in a Facebook update.
More than half a year after his rescue, the frightened street dog is now a happy house pet, and his rescuers couldn’t be more thrilled.
“We are so happy he found his place!” SRSL wrote.
To help pups like Guillermo de la Cruz get the care they need, you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis here.
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