A California beachgoer is a hero after he used a slice of pizza to lure a seagull long enough to rid it of the fishing line it had hooked inside his beak.
The incredible video posted on X Tuesday was taken on a Santa Cruz beach showing Shaquile Simpson surrounded by a flock of seagulls, with one that was struggling to walk across the sand.
As the injured bird got closer, Simpson walked slowly towards the fowl friend, coaxing him every step of the way with a slice of pie.
Eventually, he was able to get close enough to the seagull to hold him down and begin removing the fishing line the bird had become tangled in from his head to his tail feathers.
In the video, Simpson carefully begun to unwind the fishing line from the seagull, before his wife, Cloey Stiers, joined in to help with the operation.
Simpson showed his determination and bravery, continuing on even as the bird snapped at him, until he was finally able to remove the hook lodged inside the bird’s beak. The clip ended with the seagull running across the sand and flying off into the wild blue, free from his entanglements.
The video has drawn tens of thousands of views, with social media users celebrating the rescue.
“Loved seeing how calm and gentle he was throughout the whole thing. Dude definitely knew what he was doing with that seagull,” one person wrote.
“Best thing I’ve seen on the internet today. He was so calm. I could watch this over and over. Hope many blessings come to those that helped,” another person added.
The California Post spoke with Heather Smith from the Santa Cruz Native Animal Rescue who wanted to reiterate that if people find a bird injured to contact them.
Smith said fishing tackle entanglement is of the top three problems they get calls about in the area, because of where they are located.
“We do ask if people get a bird on the line, to slowly reel it in and contact us,” she said, noting the concern for infections that can happen when people remove a hook themselves.
Smith also said her organization would love to recruit the two who helped rescue the seagull.
“Always looking for compassionate people like these two and [am] extending an invitation for them to come and volunteer and get them on our rescue team.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X California Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here! California Post App: Download here! Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
The post California beachgoer uses crafty tactic to lure in seagull tangled in fishing line appeared first on New York Post.
