Seagull with Skewer in its Rear Rescued, Reunited with Chick in NYC

A single barbecue skewer was found lodged directly into the cloaca of a seagull. This bizarre incident occurred on Long Island, New York, where a great black-backed gull was discovered with a long, sharp skewer protruding from its vent, the cavity used for both excretion and reproduction. The great black-backed gull, the largest gull species with a wingspan exceeding five feet, is a powerful predator with remarkable adaptability. Despite the gruesome injury, the gull retained full flight capabilities, posing a significant challenge for rescuers. "The problem is, she can fly perfectly, so she was extremely difficult to catch," said wildlife rescuer Jan Bendiksen. About a week after the initial sighting, volunteer Nancy Prior set up a net trap at Cedar Beach and successfully captured the bird three days later. The gull was taken to the Sweetbriar Nature Center. Bendiksen described the skewer being removed "slowly and very carefully." Fortunately, the skewer was removed smoothly without causing internal damage. After recovering, the team released the gull back to the beach, only to be surprised: they didn't know she was a mother until they witnessed her emotional reunion with her chick. "Watching her go home and immediately reconnect with her baby was incredibly moving," Bendiksen remarked. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the significant impact of litter on wildlife. Reducing single-use items and properly disposing of waste could prevent similar tragedies. No way, how did that even get stuck there!?? Wouldn't that make it hard to move?? That sounds so dangerous, glad she's okay after the rescue though...