Trapped seagull rescued from downtown Victoria rooftop

A seagull was trapped for hours against the Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Victoria today, after its wing became tangled in a wire.

Across the street, Rod Lindquist says he spotted the bird as soon as he got into work at 8 a.m. PT. Thursday.

"The poor guy was hanging there and caught up in the nuisance wiring," he said.

Horrified onlookers gathered below the building, too, watching the bird dangle helplessly four storeys above street level.

"It’s really upsetting, it’s like all I can think about. I mean I know it's just a seagull but you know, it feels fear and pain too. Oh, I get emotional," said Deeyan Keller, wiping away tears.

Attempts by Hudson’s Bay security to reach the bird were unsuccessful until the arrival of a pest control team later in the afternoon.

Freddy Fonseca strapped himself in a harness and with the help of three other team members, grabbed the gull.

"Initially when I first grabbed him, he started biting me and he thought I was there to, you know, take him out and hurt him," Fonseca said.

"I put my finger in his mouth keeping him from biting me."

When Fonseca finished cutting the wire that entangled the bird, the team wrapped the animal in a towel and waited for the SPCA to arrive.

"He’s a little hurt. Hopefully he’ll be able to fly again," Fonseca said.