Jackson Pond litter hazardous to wildlife

Litter’s effect on nature: A great blue heron stands in Judy Koon’s yard, apparently unable to extricate itself from fishing line and a bag it may have mistaken for food. Staff photo by Phyllis Britt.

It's not unusual to see various water fowl feeding in Jackson Pond, a small body of water that sits alongside Jackson Avenue in North Augusta.

But it is unusual for Judy Koon, whose property borders the City of North Augusta pond, to find a full-grown great blue heron standing in her yard, motionless.

Upon closer investigation, Koon discovered the bird was apparently in distress.

It appeared to have tried to eat something in the pond, only to get snagged on the bag and whatever was inside.

"It makes my heart break to see that," said Koon, who was concerned that the bird would die if it could not extricate itself from the fishing line - and he didn't seem to be making any effort to do so.

She called animal control in hopes that someone could capture the bird and free him from his entanglement.

North Augusta Department of Public Safety Officer Mike Strauss checked out the blue heron on Monday and said it appeared to him the bird is not entangled and is able to eat OK.

Strauss said he set out to catch the bird, thinking - as Koon had - that the blue heron would be too weak to fight. However, "as soon as I approached, it began to fly," he said.

In fact, Strauss said he talked to Tanya Strickland, who said last week in Brick Pond Park she had seen the bird - complete with the bag-like attachment on his beak.

Strauss said it looks like the bag, which he thought looked like burlap, seems to be sandwiched onto his bottom jaw, somehow hooked on his teeth. At the same time, he said, "I watched it eating and drinking."

The animal control officer noted that, unfortunately, anywhere people go there is going to be littering. "This is typical of what pollution can do to wildlife," he said.

Regarding the heron's plight, Strauss said, "I'd love to be able to help," but he indicated as long as the bird seems healthy - healthy enough to move out of the officer's reach - there isn't much he can do.

As a measure to prevent such items creating a hazard for the wildlife there, Koon would like to see fishing banned at the small pond.

"I've asked them (the City) not to turn Jackson Pond into a fishing hole," she said, explaining that she has two geese who live at the pond, "and I've had to pull fishing line off their feet more than once."

Koon contended those who come down to fish often aren't careful about getting their trash, particularly fishing line that has been caught in trees around the pond. "And no one takes care of the pond," she said. "No one ever comes down here to clean it out."

Koon has pushed for making Jackson Pond a wildlife safe haven, but has gotten no takers to champion the cause.

"I asked the Audubon Society to help turn it into a wildlife preserve," she said, pointing out wood ducks come in on the pond as they migrate.

A resident of Jackson Avenue since 1977, Koon said in addition to the geese and wood ducks, the area has lots of deer who come through to eat and drink. "And there are even bard owls," she said.

Koon reported that the previous owner of the pond - before the City bought it back from the private sector - had stocked the pond with blue gill and bass - thus the attraction for fishermen.

The City's fishing policy is posted prominently at the pond. Among the requirements are: A valid fishing permit (cost is $2 for resident and $3 for non-resident adults; $1 for resident youth ages 12-16 or $2 for nonresidents); No non-game fishing devices (traps, trot lines, jugs, nets, spears, etc.); No firearms; No alcoholic beverages; No swimming; No littering ("Carry out what you carry in.")