A Loon Rescue for the Holidays, Part 2
A loon trapped by encroaching ice on Paradox Lake on December 26th, 2024.
After a successful rescue of one of the trapped loons on Paradox Lake on December 24th, our group of rescuers planned to go to Brant Lake on December 26th to catch the remaining loon in the big hole in the ice that was halfway up the lake. However, we were notified that the loon had disappeared, hopefully flying off the lake like the other juvenile loon that we witnessed escaping on its own on December 23rd. This left us with only one loon to rescue, the juvenile in the big hole on Paradox Lake that had avoided our nets on December 24th.
The concerned residents who had been watching the situation told us the loon was still there, but the hole had frozen to a smaller diameter. That makes capture much easier. The residents arranged for closer access so we wouldn’t have to haul our boat, sleds, and other gear as far as before. The day was sunny and beautiful as we slid our gear over the snow-covered ice toward the loon, while the loon wailed a high, juvenile wail several times.
ACLC volunteers trained to safely rescue loons in winter conditions prepare a gill net to attempt to capture a trapped loon on Paradox Lake. From left: Joe Poliquin, Dell Jeffrey, Colvin Chapman and Glen Chapman.
Because the loon had repeatedly dove under our gill net the last time, we modified our capture system. Weights were placed at intervals along the sinking line of the net so that it could sink deeper into the water. The four-person capture team — Dell Jeffrey, Joe Poliquin, Glen Chapman and Colvin Chapman — donned dry suits and strung the gill net across the opening of the hole. The jon boat was placed along one side with a dip net person in it, and another dip netter was on the opposite side of the ice. The job of the dip netters was to haze the loon into the gill net, or if the opportunity arose, to scoop the loon into the dip net.
The loon was nervous, dove, and stayed underwater a long time in between breaths, popping up to grab some quick air and diving again immediately, making dip netting almost impossible. But after a short time, the loon made the best mistake of its life by swimming into the gill net and getting entangled. We hoisted it out of the water and pulled the net with the loon out onto the ice. The loon was held, disentangled, and placed into a waiting bin. Everyone was smiling, except for the loon.
Rescuer Dell Jeffrey holds one side of the gill net while Glen Chapman maneuvers the gill net from the boat.
Snared by the gill net, the loon looks uncomfortable but is unharmed.
Dell Jeffrey carries the rescued loon to shore where it can be examined and measured before being released.
We slid our gear back to shore and took data from the juvenile loon, measuring its legs and beak, taking feather samples, weighing it, and placing a unique combination of colored bands on its legs so it could be identified in the future. Then the loon had a car ride up to Westport and was released into the open waters of Lake Champlain where its two loon friends had been released the day before Christmas. It swam away freely, and perhaps encountered the other Paradox loons later.
Thank you to all of our community members who look out for loons and contact the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation when they spot a loon in distress. If you find an iced-in loon, please contact the ACLC by calling 518- 354-8636 or emailing info@adkloon.org. Please note that we must wait for the hole to be small enough and the ice to be thick enough before attempting a rescue. ACLC highly discourages anyone without the proper equipment, training and experience from attempting to rescue an iced-in loon on their own as ice rescues are dangerous and complex. Please be prepared to share your name, the location of the iced-in loon, and any photographs or video you are able to take to help us assess the situation.
Words & Images by E. George, ACLC Field Staff & Loon Naturalist