In Bremen, Germany, an injured cormorant drew attention to itself by seeking help at a hospital emergency room door, eventually prompting medical staff to call firefighters, according to the Bremen fire department. The bird’s behavior—pecking at the glass entrance—brought it to the notice of staff at Klinikum Links der Weser, officials said.
The cormorant, described by the fire department as a shiny black waterbird, had a triple fishing hook stuck in its beak, according to the department. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Klinikum Links der Weser hospital in the northern city of Bremen, the department said.
In a joint effort, the firefighters and medical staff removed the fishhook and treated the wound, the Bremen firefighter department said in a statement. After the treatment, the bird was later released back into nature on the grounds of the hospital park, officials said.
The fire department added that when an injured cormorant approaches humans, it is usually a sign of extreme distress and that the animal has lost its natural shyness. It said a fishhook in the bird’s beak would be extremely dangerous, warning that infections, pain and even starvation are possible for the animal.
The fire department’s statement pointed to the broader risk that fishing gear can pose to wildlife when it becomes caught in animals’ mouths and feeding equipment. By calling firefighters and arranging for treatment before release, hospital staff and responders were able to remove the source of the injury.