Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Great Blue Heron

Patient 24-1696 in care at BRWC. @BRWC 2024

This Great Blue Heron came to the Center in early June after suffering a wing injury due to a fishing hook.

Patient 24-1696 healing process. @BRWC 2024

Please recognize the dangers of hooks and lines and make every effort to retrieve line lost to tree branches. Make good choices when fishing and do not cast close to edges where lines can easily become entangled.

Avoid using lead sinkers and opt for non-toxic alternatives. If you are boating and see line in a tree that you are able to safely retrieve, please be a good neighbor and help to clean up what the angler may not have been able to reach. Help keep our planet safe for our wildlife!

As a result of being caught up in the fishing gear, this patient had a laceration and associated tears in the muscle and the tissue was infected.

After 27 days in care, we are thrilled to report that this heron has now been returned home!

Thank you Loudoun County Animal Services and Kristi’s Caring Hands Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education for assisting with both the rescue and release of this beautiful bird. Click here to watch the video of this patient’s release!

Patient 24-1696 in care at BRWC. @BRWC 2024

The Great Blue Heron is one of Virginia’s biggest birds (and by far the biggest heron in Virginia) standing about 4 feet tall with a 6-foot wingspan.

In Virginia, Great Blue Herons are generally considered year-round residents, though some may migrate short distances. They nest in rookeries (colonies in tall trees near water) and can often be seen on the shores of our local rivers and wetlands!

Protecting Great Blue Herons and their habitat is crucial for ecosystem health and biodiversity. These birds play a significant role in maintaining balanced ecosystems by controlling populations of fish, amphibians, and small mammals. Plus, they are a beautiful sight to see!