Local Tree Climber Saves Osprey During Night Rescue

Ken Cooper • August 5, 2024

Osprey was caught in fishing line and tree

gulf shores environmental news

This weekend the Orange Beach Wildlife Center received a report about an Osprey stuck in a tree. The bird was entangled in fishing line. The team knew their usual methods would not work in the dark.


They called Phillip from Spar Land & Tree Management for help. Phillip climbed the tree and secured the branch the Osprey was on. He carefully cut the branch and lowered it to the ground.


A team was waiting below to retrieve the bird. The Osprey had a hook in its wing and another in its foot. The team removed the fishing gear and cleaned the wounds. They took the osprey back to the Wildlife Center are now providing care for the bird.


The Wildlife Center thanked Phillip for his quick response. Without him, the bird would have remained stuck all night. They also praised their interns who worked past midnight to help the Osprey.


The Wildlife Center would like to remind everyone to "Mind Your Line" to help prevent such incidents.


The Orange Beach Wildlife Center's Mission is the protection and preservation of wildlife. If an animal is injured, please do not offer it any food or water as they might not be physically fit enough to process the food offered. Please get the animal to the closest licensed wildlife rehabilitator.



For Injured or Orphaned Wildlife

  • Inside Orange Beach city limits, call Police Dispatch at (251) 981-9777
  • For domestic animals, please contact Police Dispatch 
  • Outside of Orange Beach city limits, call 1-844-303-WILD (9453)
  • For dolphin and whale stranding's (live or carcasses), call 1-877- WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343)
  • For manatee stranding's (live or carcasses), call 1-866- 493-5803
  • For Sea turtles, call 1-844-SEA-TRTL


  • gulf shores news

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • news in gulf shores

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • port at zekes

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • saunders marine gulf shores

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • yabbas snack shack

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • freedom boat club orange beach

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • buzzcatz coffee

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Recent Posts

visions of Christmas orange beach
By Ken Cooper October 30, 2025
The popular Visions of Christmas variety show is coming back to the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center for its fifth season. The community holiday production promises to bring entertainment and seasonal cheer to audiences of all ages.
end of daylight savings
By Gulf Shores News Staff October 30, 2025
Daylight Saving Time will end this Sunday, giving residents across most of the United States an extra hour of sleep. Clocks will fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m., marking the return to standard time. The change means earlier sunsets and darker evenings for the coming months.
Flora Bama Makes Southern Livings Best Dive Bar List
By Gulf Shores News Staff October 29, 2025
Have you ever heard of the Nowhere Bar in Athens, Georgia? Maybe you have driven by the No Name Pub in Pine Key, Florida. The Editors of Southern Living magazine picked their favorite southern dive bars and the legendary Flora-Bama made the list.
Show More