It was a sunny day in October 2024 when Long Island, New York, wildlife rescuer and rehabilitator Karenlynn Stracher received a call about an animal stuck outside a local bakery. Naturally, the worried animal expert raced to the scene.
When Stracher arrived, she entered through the busy bakery’s front door and breezed past the customers waiting in line. A staff member led Stracher back behind the building and pointed the rescuer toward the area where a teal, a wild bird native to the area, lay trapped and injured in a small crevice between the neighboring buildings.
Karenlynn Stracher
Teals are a species of duck known for their small size and speckled feathers. According to the U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, these birds are some of the first to migrate south in the fall, with some starting as early as August. Though we can’t know for sure, it’s possible that this teal was on his way south when he accidentally got caught in this dangerous situation.
The teal was about 6 feet back, and the crack was only about 8 inches wide, making the rescue especially difficult.
“I was very concerned about being able to reach him at all,” Stracher told The Dodo.
Karenlynn Stracher
Luckily, Stracher was up to the challenge. Using a long net, she gently coaxed the bird out from his hiding spot. At first, the teal attempted to fly away, but his injury stopped him from gaining momentum. The teal was understandably afraid of his rescuer, and when he realized he couldn’t fly, he tried to make a run for it. But Stracher, who has plenty of experience catching wild birds, was quick enough to grab him.
“I was able to capture him by cornering him against the building and another fence,” Stracher said. “Once he was cornered, I just reached out and picked him up. Teals are not particularly strong or dangerous birds.”
You can watch the rescue unfold in a video here:
Stracher took the bird to Sweetbriar Nature Center, where team members treated his injuries and gave him space and time to recover. Eventually, the bird was fully recuperated, and rescuers returned him to his home in the wild.
Karenlynn Stracher
Thanks to the bakery owner’s keen eye and Stracher’s rescue expertise, the teal was able to fly freely back into the New York skies where he belongs.
To help other animals like this teal, you can make a donation to Karenlynn Stracher.
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