Wherever angling overlaps with wildlife habitats, fishing gear injuries and deaths occur. Waterbirds such as herons, egrets, cormorants, ducks, and geese mistake discarded fishing line and hooks for food, leading to fatal entanglement or internal injuries. Other wildlife, including beavers, otters, and river mammals, can also become trapped, suffering exhaustion and eventual death.
A long-time river enthusiast, Dr. Andrea Willey was kayaking on the American River in August 2023 when she witnessed a Great Blue Heron’s fatal encounter with a fishing line. The next day, she and volunteers discovered an astonishing amount of fishing gear in the waters and shores of Mile11N, sparking a mission to prevent fishing gear injuries in waterbird and other wildlife. The Waterbird Habitat Project was born—retrieving thousands of fishhooks, lures, lead weights, and reels of line since the project’s inception.
Our Work:
Removing Abandoned Fishing Gear
We retrieve discarded fishhooks, lures, and lines from the American River to protect wildlife and maintain a clean, gear-free environment.
Partnering with Anglers
We collaborate with anglers to raise awareness of fishing gear injuries and promote responsible stewardship of the river ecosystem.
Providing Free Snag Retrieval
Our team offers a free service to recover snagged fishing gear, preventing it from being left behind in the river.
Protecting Waterbird Habitats
We identify high-risk areas where waterbirds and anglers overlap, working on long-term solutions to reduce gear-related injuries.
Installing Recycling Stations
We partner with Sacramento County Parks to install signs and fishing line recycling receptacles to keep the shores and water safe.
Habitat Restoration
We remove invasive plants from the water that snag gear and restore the river habitat to help fish, waterbirds, and wildlife that depend on the river to thrive.
Rescuing Injured Wildlife
We help local wildlife rescue volunteers to locate and rescue waterbirds entangled in fishing gear.