Fishing line left on the bank or in the water can entangle wildlife.

A news release from the Missouri Department of Conservation says as fishing picks up, it reminds anglers to properly discard used or broken-off fishing line. Besides preventing unsightly litter, careful anglers also will be protecting wildlife.
Recently, a citizen spotted a hawk that was entangled in fishing line snagged on a limb high in a tree on the bank of the Osage River, north of El Dorado Springs. The injured hawk could not be rescued and had to be euthanized.
Fishing lines do not degrade readily. They can pose hazards long after they are left in the water.
Whenever possible, old line should be retrieved and properly discarded in trash bins. Anglers are urged to never change line and leave the old line bank side.
For more information, visit MDC’s website at mdc.mo.gov.