On Wednesday, November 6, my brother and I were hiking near Lake Whitehall when we discovered a tangled fishing line caught on a tree branch. A bat was ensnared by its wing on the hook, struggling desperately to escape; it likely had been trapped there throughout the night. We managed to free the bat and remove the hook, but its wing was severely damaged. Regrettably, we had to make the decision to humanely euthanize it. This experience was truly heartbreaking.
I urge all anglers to avoid leaving behind tangled lines and hooks, as they pose a significant threat to wildlife, pets, and small children. If you love your time in nature, please show it the respect it deserves. If you find it difficult to do so, consider staying home or visiting a shopping mall instead.
Lisa Goldwyn
Hopkinton
29 July it was a bard owl caught in a tangle of monofilament alongside Whitehall. We were able to get it down, and Bill Proctor took it to Tufts with the same sad result.
Some may have noticed the monofilament entangled branches on some pines by the Whitehall boat ramp have been removed. A heartfelt thank you to those responsible for doing that.