WATCH:Buzzard rescued after entangled by rope hanging from tree limb

Photo Courtesy Tracey Graybill-Anderson (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) – Thanks to fast action from Roanoke County residents, the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, the Department of Game and Inland fisheries and the Roanoke County Fire Department, one unlucky black buzzard will live to see another day.

Posted by Dawn Woods Bush on Saturday, October 29, 2016

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A resident in the Penn Forest area of Roanoke County noticed the black buzzard caught in a rope, hanging upside down from the limb of a large tree Saturday afternoon. Dawn Woods caught the rescue on camera. She lovingly named the black buzzard "Bob."

Dr. Diane D'Orazio with the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center was called in to help. She says the buzzard was suspended more than twenty feet off the ground from the rope.

Photo Courtesy Tracey Graybill-Anderson
In the video captured by Dawn Woods, the buzzard can be seen flailing, trying to escape after it became entangled by the rope.

Bob the Black Vulture has been saved!!!! Thank you to all who reached out and stepped up to try and helped. It must have totaled 100 or more people. Thank you all so much! Enjoy this great video of his rescue and please feel free to share it! 😊🦃 What a relief for him!!!!

Posted by Dawn Woods Bush on Saturday, October 29, 2016
D'Orazio says Roanoke County police as well as the fire department responded.
She says the limb was too high off the ground to be able to easily free the buzzard. D'Orazio says exhaustion was her first concern for the bird. The center has previously rescued a hawk in years past who was caught in a very similar situation after being entangled by a rope.

The buzzard was caught for several hours upside down before he was able to be freed.Sabrina Garvin, Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center says the fire department was able to provide a ladder high enough to release the bird.The buzzard was taken to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center to be treated. It is expected to be okay.


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