Coquitlam animal control staff have been busy trying to catch a cormorant at Lafarge Lake that appears to have fishing line and a float wrapped around its leg.
Despite the fact the bird is tangled, it has proven difficult to capture, as staff seek to help struggling animal.
"We did attempt to rescue the bird," said Andrea McDonald, the city's manager of bylaws and animal controls services. "The bird seems to be able to fly and swim much better than we are at getting close to it."
McDonald said that staff are monitoring the situation and have even gone out on boats to attempt to grab the bird. If the animal gets itself in more distress, she added, staff will have to capture it and remove the line.
Calls from the public have been pouring into city hall on the matter and staff wants residents to know that they are trying to deal with the issue. The city is also looking at working with partner agencies and fishing groups on public education to help avoid similar future incidents.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C., the organization that stocks Lafarge Lake, has been notified and will be conducting a lake cleanup at Lafarge and Como lakes prior to their evening fishing program on April 21. FFSBC will also have members at both lakes on May 4 to talk with anglers about fishing etiquette and proper line disposal.
@GMcKennaTC
