February 17, 2021

by Maureen Magee

While driving toward home on the rain-soaked road to Cedar Key, Lois noticed something writhing in the flooded swale along the road.

Could it be a drowning egret?  A white-feathered bird seemed to be trapped in the mud and vines.

Though Lois has no training in wildlife rescue, she knew she could not simply drive on.  No other cars came by on this particular rainy evening.  She was on her own.

As she stepped closer, she realized that the bird was tangled in a plastic bag, its feet through the handles and the bag itself partway down the bird’s throat, the plastic holding the bird in a contorted position, leaving him unable to move.

“Let me think,” she said to no one, as her heart raced.  “What do I do first?”

She walked the few steps back to her car, opening the tailgate to give herself a surface on which to work.  Then she waded into the soaked swale and gently carried the bird to the tailgate.

Deciding whether to begin with the feet or the bill, she wisely chose the feet first.  Lois extricated the bird’s long legs and feet from the handles of the bag, allowing the bird some mobility to stretch his cramped neck.

She then realized how much of the bag was down the bird’s throat.  Again, standing in the pouring rain, she asked out loud, “Can the bag be caught on something in his throat?  Will I hurt him if I pull it out?”  Untrained but caring, she considered the options.

So, hands shaking and heart still thumping, Lois slowly eased the plastic out of the bird’s throat and mouth.  He shook his head, as if surprised that he could move.

Lois placed him gently on the edge of the water, where he stumbled at first.  Then he regained his sense of balance, his stability.   A few steps, the wings spread, and he was airborne!

Lois was soon back in her car, on the way home, a different person than she had been just a short time ago.  Yes, that would now be Lois Benninghoff, Wild Animal Rescuer!

*****