Presented by Linda and Kevin Grenzer, Loon Rescue Inc.
Hosted by Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, April 18, 7:00 pm
Guest article by Sheila Farrell Johnston
A beached loon is a sick or injured loon! But what should you do if you find one on your shore or see a loon in distress when you are on the water? Learn from the experts, Kevin and Linda Grenzer of Loon Rescue, Inc., at Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates FREE Basic Loon Rescue and Transport Strategies Webinar!
There are about 12,000 loons in Minnesota, our land of 10,000 lakes, so it is no surprise that some of them fall victim to illness and injury. The three leading causes of loon deaths are human caused: lead poisoning, boat and jet ski strikes, and fishing line entanglement or hooking. Explosions from private lakeside fireworks displays also pose a grave danger to loons and can injure or kill them. Chicks can be lost after separating from parents in the chaos.
Volunteers are Needed and Lake Associations Can Help Too!
Minnesota has excellent wildlife rehabilitation clinics that are well prepared to care for sick or injured loons, and orphaned chicks that are brought to rehab. However, rehab clinics usually do not do capture and transport. There are very few volunteers in Minnesota to rescue sick or injured loons and transport them to the clinics. Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release has an excellent all-volunteer wildlife rescue team that is based in the Twin Cities metro. They are stretched thin, and they are usually unable to rescue loons out-state where most of the loons reside and are found in trouble. Last summer a skeleton crew of north-central Minnesota loon rescue volunteers received 4 to 10 calls a week of loons in need of rescue state-wide! It was impossible for them to help all the loons! Volunteers are needed and lake associations and individuals can help! The first step is to spread the word about this webinar. The second step is to attend the Basic Loon Rescue and Transport Strategies Webinar and learn how you can help. Both rescue volunteers and drivers are needed.
Loon Rescue and Transport Webinar Details
Kevin and Linda Grenzer, of Loon Rescue, Inc., have been rescuing loons and other birds in need of help since 2013. This husband and wife duo specializes in rescuing loons all year long, including ice rescues. They are nationally respected loon rescue experts. During the webinar they will share how to identify if a loon is need of help, and ways to safely capture and transport a loon in need of rescue. Techniques will be discussed on how to approach a beached loon, and an entangled loon that is easily approachable and does not dive. Proper equipment and supplies needed for capture and transport will also be discussed.
Please share the information about the webinar with loon loving friends and lake association members. As Linda and Kevin Grenzer say, “When you save one loon, you are saving future generations of loons!”
Rescue Help for Sick and Injured Loons
Minnesota
Out-State Minnesota
612 226-6571 or 816 516-0759
Within 1.5 hours of Twin Cities Metro
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release, 612 822-7058, wrr-mn.org
Wisconsin
Loon Rescue, Inc., 715-966-5415, 715-453-4916
Loon Rescue, Inc. is on Facebook. You can also message them on their page for help.