The City of Longmont’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space department is asking Longmont anglers to collect discarded fishing line, hooks, and lures when fishing. The City’s goal is to reduce the numbers of birds that are injured and killed by fishing tackle.

Their request is being distributed through social media, the City website and various City publications as well as new signs to be posted at local fishing spots:

Many fishing spots have dedicated fishing line recycling containers for fishing line; where these are not available people are asked to simply throw discarded fishing line away.

“Getting tangled in fishing line can make it difficult for birds to move, eat or escape from predators,” said Ecosystem Manager Jim Krick. “Swallowing hooks or lines is often deadly. This year we’ve seen several examples where birds were injured, or had to be euthanized, because of fishing gear. We understand that sometimes when lines break, the lost line is not retrievable. However, anytime you can pick up unwanted line, it can make a life-or-death difference to local birds.”

You can help protect local wildlife and waterways by volunteering with the City of Longmont’s Adopt-A-Park program. Learn more at bit.ly/adopt-park.

Should Longmont parks visitors see a bird in trouble they are encouraged to report it by calling 303-651-8555.

Contact: Rogelio Mares
City of Longmont, Public Information Officer
720-899-0758