Local Seabird Needed Rescuing After Clam It Tried To Eat Fought Back
A local wildlife rescue center and hospital recently shared a true David and Goliath story featuring one very unlikely underdog.
The Cape Wildlife Center, a local wildlife rescue center and hospital, recently shared a true David and Goliath story featuring one very unlikely underdog. Apparently, a seabird that tried to eat a clam was met with a very unexpected turn of events. "This gull was not having a good week," shares the rescue. "When the clam breakfast decided to fight back and clamp down on his beak." The clam decided not to let go, forcing the gull's beak closed, which, without intervention, could have led to the bird's death.
For multiple days, the Barnstable natural resource officers at Sandy Neck Beach attempted to catch the gull in an effort to help him. Despite being awkwardly weighed down by the large clamshell, the bird managed to evade being caught until May 28th, when he was finally captured and brought to the Cape Wildlife Center for assessment.
Once at the rescue center, Cape Wildlife's veterinary team was able to use a shucker to remove the clam without causing any damage to the gull's beak. The team also confirmed that the bird was otherwise healthy and not in need of any further treatment. "He was returned back to the beach slightly shell-shocked but otherwise relieved." Amazingly, the little clam-that-could was also safely released back into the wild, having survived a battle for the ages.
A Little More About The Cape Wildlife Center
The Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center is a program of the New England Wildlife Centers. They run two non-profit wildlife veterinary hospitals and education centers located in Barnstable and Weymouth and work to provide veterinary and rehabilitative care to sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. In the process of caring for those patients, they work to educate the public and spread the message of environmental conservation.
If you would like to assist them in their noble goal of helping in-need wildlife, you can find information about volunteering here. You can also provide support by donating. More information on donating can be found here.
