One guy from Florida was doing a routine patrol through the mangrove-lined waterway when he noticed something odd in the branches, something tangled up where it clearly didn’t belong.
He slowed the boat, leaned over the rail, and peered closer to see what it could be. It was hard to see, but he could tell something was there.
The shape looked small and stuck, and he could tell this wasn’t just driftwood. That moment turned into a rescue mission before he even realized it.
It’s An Animal Stuck In A Tree
Captain Tom Mattmuller was patrolling through the waters of Lyon Bay and just going on about his day, but he had no idea that his day would change completely.
He spotted something above. It looked like an animal stuck in a mangrove tree branch, so he moved up closer to get a look.
Mattmuller told The Dodo: “I noticed a cormorant bird flapping its wings, hanging from a limb in the mangroves. I could see what appeared to be a fishing line tangled around its beak and the branch.”
The man quickly realized that he couldn’t help the animal, so he called local law enforcement for help. He couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
Later, Venice Police Marine Officer Woodworth and Sarasota County Deputy Sheriff Watson arrived to help Mattmuller.
They were trying to figure out a way to help this bird, so they thought about using an extended boat hook. They wanted to lower the branch in order to catch the bird.
They Lowered The Branch In Order To Help
So, they did just that and they were really careful. They didn’t want to hurt the bird in this attempt and it was a resounding success.
The men rescued the bird shortly after, and it was handed back to a volunteer from a local wildlife rescue. In a moment, Mattmuller made the decision that saved a life.
Even though this was not something his company specialized in, the men were pretty resourceful and happy to help.
He ended by saying: “All of us at Sea Tow Venice grew up with a deep appreciation for our local marine wildlife. We are fortunate to witness its beauty daily while working on the water. With that, there are times when we find animals in distress, so we take pride in always going above and beyond to help them get the assistance they need.”
I think this final message serves as a good reminder to always respect nature and work to help the animals in need. It may not seem like much, but it’s life-changing to the animals you save.
