Local Loon Rescue
Early morning on April 27, Becky Cole was out paddling in her kayak on Papoose Lake in Vilas County when she came upon this loon trapped in this fyke net close to the boat landing. She contacted the Loon Ranger, June and Paul Lewandoski from a neighboring lake regarding this trapped loon. June called us at 8:30 am and her husband, Paul, sent us the photo Becky took.
Fyke nets are placed out by the DNR and are particularly useful in the spring as they draw in walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge coming closer to shore in search of suitable spawning grounds. DNR staff visit each net set out to count, measure, weigh, and sex (if possible) each fish before it is released.
The loon was calmly “ just hanging” in this net. We were concerned if someone approached the loon, it would dive into the net. And, we were concerned that while diving, it could get tangled in the net and could possibly drown.
We started making phone calls to the local wardens, but we were getting their voicemail. June was worried about someone approaching until help arrived. She set up camp on this cold morning at the boat launch with a lawn chair, book, and bullhorn to make sure anyone heard her.
When we were not getting calls back, we broadened our search to other DNR wardens we worked with in the past. That is when we heard from DNR Warden Tim Price and knew the reason we have not heard back from anyone. They were out all night shocking fish and were sleeping after an “all nighter”. Tim had their personal cell phones and made calls to them.
Soon DNR Warden Matt Meade contacted us. He also contacted Greg and Royce who set the fyke net up. Matt met June at the boat launch and said the others were on their way. The guys boated out to the fyke net and got in the water with their waders. They placed a long hook to open up the net that trapped the loon in the net and slowly started bringing the fyke net into the shoreline (like a slinky). The loon was free and slowly paddled away at 12:35 pm.
Without Becky, June, and Paul’s call and photos this loon would have been trapped until Monday as that is when this fyke net would have been checked The only way we know a loon or other bird is in need of help is when we get the call from concerned residents. We are thankful for everything Becky, June, and Paul did to help this loon. We are truly grateful to our WI DNR wardens and biologists who immediately came to the loon’s rescue when the phone calls woke them up. They wasted no time heading to Papoose Lake to free this loon.
Of the 30 years the biologist has used fyke nets, he has never had a loon in one. We wonder if this loon was chasing a fish and followed it into the net and had a good meal while waiting to be rescued!