Sunday, July 20, 2008 12:20 AM EDT
Mikey rehabbed, set free by good Samaritans
 Jack Rives, 11, from Charleston, N.c., releases a rehabilitated seagull near the Weekapaug Breachway on Monday DANIEL HYLAND/The Sun |
The cardboard box shook as Jack Rives prepared to open the top flaps.
Inside was the blackbacked gull the 11-yearold and his godfather and his uncle, Howard Hyde, had rescued.
The gull, now healthy after rehabilitation, was ready to be set free at the Weekapaug Breachway, the same location where it was found.
Rives gently opened the box and the gull poked his head out. The large seagull then spread his wings, and took to the skies. At first he tentatively dipped over the water, then gained altitude, flying north up the breachway.
Rives, visiting from Charleston, North Carolina, and Hyde, of Weekapaug Road, found the gull two weeks ago with line wrapped around its wing, legs, neck and beak, preventing it from eating.
“He was really weak and about to die,” Rives said.
They managed to catch the gull with a fish net and brought him to the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island, a Wickford clinic that cares for injured wild animals and birds.
WRARI staff X-rayed the gull and found it had not swallowed a lure, as believed, and watched over him as he regained strength.
“He’s perfectly healthy after two weeks,” Hyde said.
Rives gave their rescue a name, Mikey, while Hyde referred to the gull as Jonathan for the popular 1970 novella, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
” Rives said it was fun to rescue and touch the gull.
“And we helped it so it didn’t die,” he said.
Hyde said they have found several other gulls along the docks caught in line, but have been able to cut them free.
Inside was the blackbacked gull the 11-yearold and his godfather and his uncle, Howard Hyde, had rescued.
The gull, now healthy after rehabilitation, was ready to be set free at the Weekapaug Breachway, the same location where it was found.
Rives gently opened the box and the gull poked his head out. The large seagull then spread his wings, and took to the skies. At first he tentatively dipped over the water, then gained altitude, flying north up the breachway.
Rives, visiting from Charleston, North Carolina, and Hyde, of Weekapaug Road, found the gull two weeks ago with line wrapped around its wing, legs, neck and beak, preventing it from eating.
“He was really weak and about to die,” Rives said.
They managed to catch the gull with a fish net and brought him to the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island, a Wickford clinic that cares for injured wild animals and birds.
WRARI staff X-rayed the gull and found it had not swallowed a lure, as believed, and watched over him as he regained strength.
“He’s perfectly healthy after two weeks,” Hyde said.
Rives gave their rescue a name, Mikey, while Hyde referred to the gull as Jonathan for the popular 1970 novella, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
” Rives said it was fun to rescue and touch the gull.
“And we helped it so it didn’t die,” he said.
Hyde said they have found several other gulls along the docks caught in line, but have been able to cut them free.
happy reader wrote on Jul 16, 2008 3:56 PM:
" Just wanted to thank the Westerly Sun for sharing this heartwarming story. Jack and Howard, keep up the good work! "
happy reader wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:03 AM:
" What a great story - there are so many jerks out there hurting animals, its really uplifting to hear about the people who take time to help them. Howard & Jack have great karma coming to them for doing such a wonderful thing! Such a great lesson for other children as well. Thank you Jack & Howard, and for the Sun for sharing this story. "
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