Endangered painted turtle recovering after swallowing fish hooks in Burnaby Lake
The Coastal Painted Turtle Project sees around 3 to 7 turtles hooked each year
An endangered turtle from Burnaby Lake Park is recovering after swallowing two barbed fishing hooks.
The turtle was first found on June 22 and went through emergency surgery at Dewdney Animal Hospital, before being transferred to the Coastal Painted Turtle Project.
Andrea Gilens works with the project team and has been helping rehabilitate the female turtle for the past few weeks.
"She's recovering well, she had surgery to remove one hook and has passed the second hook, so she's just starting to eat again now."
Gilens said her group estimates just under 300 painted turtles live in Burnaby Lake, each painted with a number on their backs for research purposes.
The animal is considered an endangered species, and has been known to have clashes with humans.
"We do have a lot of situations where turtles have run-ins with human beings, be it fish hooks or being hit by cars," said Gilens.
"Any animals that are injured or hooked can easily be taken to the Wildlife Rescue Association, which is on Burnaby Lake," she added, saying that it's better to help a hooked animal before releasing it.
With files from CBC's The Early Edition