A Northern gannet bird was pronounced dead today after it was found with a fish hook stuck in its stomach and two gunshot wounds. The bird had been brought to the South Florida Wildlife Center in Fort Lauderdale for life-saving surgery, but died the next day.
"You could definitely see a string, and the gentleman felt his neck and you could feel the [hook] in his throat. We knew he was in bad shape," said the woman who helped the bird, Deborah Dexter, according to CBS News.
The surgery took place Tuesday. "We did this quick X-ray while he was awake and there's a very large hook in his stomach," said Dr. Antonia Gardner. That's not all the X-ray found - it also revealed that the gannet was shot with two small pellets, one in his wing and the other near his back and abdomen area. "It was a tricky surgery," added Gardner.
The bird had a tough recovery ahead. "I kind of give him a 50-50 chance, maybe a little less because of the perforation. We don't know how much damage, how long it was there," said Gardner after the surgery.
Unfortunately, today, after doing all they could do, doctors pronounced the Northern gannet dead, according to CBS Local News.
This occurrence raises awareness on the proper disposal of hooks and fishing lines.
"It makes me feel like we all have to take care of our world and clean up our mess," said rescuer Lori Leveen.
