This was shared on my mom’s social media page:

ALERT!!! LOON FALLOUT CURRENTLY in NORTHERN WISCONSIN!

We are getting calls on many loons on land and small ponds the past 2 days. A few loons can be a normal situation of a loon accidentally landing as a mistake however, due to the many calls received over the past 24 hrs., it appears we may have a LOON FALLOUT occuring. That occurs when atmospheric conditions are such that the migrating loons develop ice on their body as they fly at high altitude and crash land when they are no longer able to fly due to the weight of the ice on their body or the interference with their flight ability. The current ice/rain and unstable air currents is a perfect set-up for this phenomena to occur.

At this time loon have been seen on land in Wausau, Gleason, Stratford, Neva, Rice Lake, Antigo, Drummond....other areas may be involved as well.

Loons cannot walk! They will need your help! If you find a loon on land or on a road or cow pasture, realize that it cannot walk. Their legs are placed to the back of the bird and are made for swimming and diving not walking.

Loons can be difficult to handle. Call REGI or Loon Rescue (phone numbers below) or your local wildlife center for advice. Do NOT TAKE THEM TO SMALL PONDS FOR RELEASE!! They cannot fly from small ponds as they need a quarter mile or more of open water to run across and get airborne.

They have sharp beaks and use the beak for defense. You can cover them with a blanket to contain them. You can transport them in a rubbermaid container with air holes in the top. Please put towels on the bottom of the container or box to cushion their V shaped keel and prevent injury.

Call REGI at 715-623-4015 or Loon Rescue at 715-966-5415

Stay safe everyone and let us know if you need assistance. Loon are the symbol of the Northwoods but need our help right now.

Learn something every day...loons can't walk.

I recall this happening in 2013 in MN. Lake frozen that year well into the loon migration sadly led to the demise of many of those iconic, beautiful birds.

Wonderful post thank you! Hope they’re gonna be ok out there

I didn't know this was a thing. I get that nature is tough on nature but hadn't ever thought about the possibly of this. Good story. Thanks.

Eagles kill the loons.

Stumpy: "Eagles kill the loons."

The weather is killing the loons, not eagles. Loons Fall From Sky NPR Article

Frenchy19: "

Stumpy: "Eagles kill the loons."

The weather is killing the loons, not eagles. Loons Fall From Sky NPR Article "

I have watched Eagles killing loons.

This happened in Middle Tennessee about 5 years ago. We had a huge monsoon of rain and found that loons saw what looked like landing waters but were just reflected puddles of water on concrete and asphalt. They landed there and then were stranded, some even injured from the landing. And, of course, they couldn't take off again.

The local wildlife rehabber here took in over 40 loons and were able to release them later. I saw a bunch of them dead on the highway. It was heartbreaking.

OneMatch: "This happened in Middle Tennessee about 5 years ago. We had a huge monsoon of rain and found that loons saw what looked like landing waters but were just reflected puddles of water on concrete and asphalt. They landed there and then were stranded, some even injured from the landing. And, of course, they couldn't take off again.


The local wildlife rehabber here took in over 40 loons and were able to release them later. I saw a bunch of them dead on the highway. It was heartbreaking."

That is sad

Stumpy: "

Frenchy19: "

Stumpy: "Eagles kill the loons."

The weather is killing the loons, not eagles. Loons Fall From Sky NPR Article "

I have watched Eagles killing loons."

I'm sure eagles can in fact kill loons - that does not negate the reality of the fallout. One has nothing to do with the other.

Any data on total number of rescues this spring?

NikonF5user: "

Stumpy: "

Frenchy19: "

Stumpy: "Eagles kill the loons."

The weather is killing the loons, not eagles. Loons Fall From Sky NPR Article "

I have watched Eagles killing loons."

I'm sure eagles can in fact kill loons - that does not negate the reality of the fallout. One has nothing to do with the other."

I think it could very well lead to eagles killing the loons from this fallout, so yes, it would be related. I imagine coyotes would be happy about this as well. Nature is brutal.

TomT: "

NikonF5user: "

Stumpy: "

Frenchy19: "

Stumpy: "Eagles kill the loons."

The weather is killing the loons, not eagles. Loons Fall From Sky NPR Article "

I have watched Eagles killing loons."

I'm sure eagles can in fact kill loons - that does not negate the reality of the fallout. One has nothing to do with the other."

I think it could very well lead to eagles killing the loons from this fallout, so yes, it would be related. I imagine coyotes would be happy about this as well. Nature is brutal."

You are missing the point. Loon Fall Out has nothing to do with eagles killing loons. It happens when the loons' wings develop ice on them causing them to crash due to the excess weight.

Could eagles then prey on the loons? Of course. But the OP is about the phenomenon of Loon Fallout-not eagles possibly attacking them once they are on the ground.

Frenchy I get that. It’s just expanding on the topic. Unintended consequences of loon fallout could result in predators taking advantage of the situation. I am for rescuing these loons. Some people might have the opinion to let nature take its course. In this situation I would volunteer like Jerry did to find and rescue as many as possible. I’m not in a situation right now to do that. But if others are in that area, maybe consider calling the local wildlife rescue and volunteering to help.

TomT: "Frenchy I get that. It’s just expanding on the topic. Unintended consequences of loon fallout could result in predators taking advantage of the situation. I am for rescuing these loons. Some people might have the opinion to let nature take its course. In this situation I would volunteer like Jerry did to find and rescue as many as possible. I’m not in a situation right now to do that. But if others are in that area, maybe consider calling the local wildlife rescue and volunteering to help. "

Got it. I any case, it is a sad situation. Hope it starts to warm up soon.

I had no idea. Interesting and sad phenomenon.