Rescuers came to the aid of a bird that got its beak stuck in a pickleball.
A great blue heron was spotted with its beak stuck in one of the holes of the ball in the Lake Hollingsworth area of Lakeland. A rescuer was able to catch the bird on Tuesday after multiple attempts over several days, according to a post by the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay.
The rescuers had to cut the ball off the bird’s beak. Rescuers said the bird became thin due to its inability to eat, which could’ve been prevented.
“The situation nearly proved fatal for the bird,” the post read.
The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay is using this rescue as a reminder for people to retrieve anything plastic that they are playing with outdoors.
The bird is now recovering at the rehabilitation center.