Residents rescue bird in distress following pickleball incident
Think about this particular scenario the next time you feel like leaving the outdoor court without picking up pickleballs.
Last month in the Cane Island community of Katy, TX - which has a court on-site - residents observed a blue heron bird in need of assistance because it had a pickleball that appeared to be stuck on its beak.
The situation gained a ton of traction on social media.
“Neighbors immediately started suggesting local organizations, and I also posted about the situation in the Southeast Texas Snake ID group, which is great for rescue referrals,” said Cane Island resident, Aubrie Johnson, in a Katy Magazine News article by Natalie Cook Clark published on Monday. “We contacted multiple groups. Some said they could help if the bird was captured, but no one was available to come out and trap it.”
Locals tried again and again to capture the bird, but couldn't get the job done.
“My husband tried one evening, but the bird was still flying and eating, so we couldn’t get close,” said Johnson. “He wasn’t injured, just limited by the ball stuck on his beak.”
A couple, Gonzalo and Karina, finally managed to get the bird under control with a towel on May 28, and a passerby, Tony Benetz, successfully removed the ball.
“It was really stuck,” noted Benetz. “I tried one more time and thankfully it came off.”
Gonzalo and Karina took the bird home to rest and recuperate, before releasing it back into a pond.
“Honestly, when I came up on this, I knew I had to help,” said Benetz. “The couple, Gonzalo and Karina, were the real heroes.”
It's a lesson learned for members of the entire Cane Island community.
“Simply put: pick up after yourself. This bird could’ve died because of a stray pickleball. We always try to clean up trash when walking with our kids and teach them to respect the environment. A small act—like tossing away a piece of litter—can save an animal’s life. It’s easy and it matters,” stressed Johnson. “I’m hoping that with the amount of people that were posting about this, that maybe this will bring awareness. If people are out, make sure you collect everything because you never know what a bird will think will be food.”
