Editorial October 1, 1984 Issue

Out from under the wool ... and staying alert

WILLIAM E. MOODY

We were making our way by boat through a maze of bayous and canals that crisscrossed an almost endless expanse of marshland. As we passed a small chenier—a ridge on the marsh just high enough to support a stand of scrub oaks—we noticed a big snowy egret. The bird put up quite a flap but couldn't get airborne. When we were only a few yards away, we saw that the egret had stumbled into a hunter's trap.

Although such commercial traps aren't intended for birds, the egret was large enough that his weight had sprung the mechanism. He seemed to be in good shape but simply wasn't able to pull his leg free. My friend and I decided we would try to release him.

It takes two hands—unhampered by a flapping bird with a sharp beak—to pry this kind of trap apart. But there was no way the frightened egret would let us get near him. Then an idea came. I picked up a rag from the bottom of the boat and threw it over the bird's head. He quieted down immediately. I was able to hold him aside while my friend opened the trap. I got the rag back, and off flew the egret.

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