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   Minnesota Loon Rescue is seeking volunteers to help rescue and transport injured loons throughout northern Minnesota and will host a volunteer training session August 22 and 23.

   The nonprofit organization responded to dozens of loon rescue calls during its inaugural year, with trained volunteers rescuing 58 loons and one swan. Calls included reports of loons entangled in fishing line, injured by hooks or boat strikes, and displaced loon chicks. While many birds were successfully rehabilitated and released, others suffered fatal injuries.

A common loon suffers from fishing line entanglement and a jig lodged in its mouth. Volunteers with Minnesota Loon Rescue respond to cases like this and will teach new volunteers proper rescue techniques during an upcoming training session. Photos by Shelia Farrell Johnston.

   According to Minnesota Loon Rescue, the leading causes of loon injuries and deaths are human-related, including lead poisoning from ingested fishing tackle, boat strikes and fishing line entanglement.

   The organization is looking to expand its network of volunteers in northern, northeastern and northwestern Minnesota.

   A one-day volunteer training session will be held Saturday, August 22, at the Gull Lake Sailing School on the east shore of Gull Lake near Brainerd. If registration exceeds capacity, a second session will be offered Sunday, August 23. The training will be led by Gail Buhl of Partners for Wildlife, a master wildlife rehabilitator and rescuer with Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, along with additional experienced loon rescue volunteers.

Volunteers from a September 2024 Loon rescue training session.

   The free training runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is limited to 27 participants per session. The agenda includes loon biology, rescue assessment, safe handling techniques, rescue equipment, and hands-on practice for shoreline and boat rescues.

   Those interested in attending should email [email protected] and include their name, nearest lake, town or city, county, and whether they are available Saturday, Sunday or either day.

   Additional information about Minnesota Loon Rescue is available at mnloonrescue.org.

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