Victoria Mansion in Portland says a seagull has died after being caught on the building’s tower spire on Danforth Street for several days.
Victoria Mansion staff says the lightning rod at the tip of the spire pierced the bird’s wing and abdomen, and numerous efforts to rescue the bird were not successful.
The Portland Fire Department used a 100-foot aerial ladder truck, but could not get to the gull, even after reaching beyond the bucket with a long fire pole.
Mansion staff says they consulted with animal advocate group PETA on rescues efforts and worked with Keeley Crane to arrange for a person to be lifted to the tower roof to extricate the gull.
They say evening before the extrication was scheduled to take place, two people brought ladders to the property, scaled multiple roofs, and carried the bird to the ground.
The seagull did not survive the rescue attempt.
Victoria Mansion staff says they’re currently assessing the Mansion’s lightning protection system to see if there are ways to make it safer for birds.
