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Ospreys Have Fatal Attraction To Baling Twine, Fishing Line

This is how ospreys' unhealthy affinity for baling twine can kill. Idaho Fish and Game biologist Beth Waterbury rescued this osprey in the nick of time. (Beth Waterbury/Idaho Fish and Game)
This is how ospreys' unhealthy affinity for baling twine can kill. Idaho Fish and Game biologist Beth Waterbury rescued this osprey in the nick of time. (Beth Waterbury/Idaho Fish and Game)

Ospreys are large fish-eating birds of prey that build their nests near rivers, lakes and bays around America. And these raptors like to line their nests with discarded baling twine and fishing line. The problem is, it can kill them.

Wildlife biologists in the northwestern U.S. are working with ranchers to keep the attractive nuisance out of the ospreys’ clutches. From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Tom Banse of Northwest News Network reports.

  • See more photos and read more on this story via Northwest News Network
  • Reporter

  • Tom Banse, reporter for Northwest News Network. He tweets @TomBanse.
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