Swan rescue a great success
by Michelle Minnoch

A few weeks back The Scope printed an article about a boater who drove at and around swans on Lake Simcoe. Last Wednesday, the Toronto Wildlife Centre, in conjunction with Wye Marsh, set off on Lake Simcoe from Kontiki Marina to rescue an injured swan.

The Wildlife officials were on the Lake for just over an hour when they caught the swan just north of the Second Line area. The swan left the shoreline and went into the deep water, in which the officials had to rescue the birds with huge nets.

The bird was not tagged, and was gently lifted into the boat, where it was covered.

“The swan had his head covered, which would help to relax him,” said a local resident.

Upon being brought to shore, the swan was cradled into a dry blanket, and then carefully placed into a cage.

The swan’s wing had a direct break - a compound fracture was observed and noted.

“The bone is dead,” said a resident. “It was broken between the shoulder and the elbow. It was a clean break.”

As of press time, the bird was being sent to Guelph, where officials are hoping the wing can be saved. If all goes well, the Wye Marsh will house the bird, who will not be able to live in wild.

The Toronto Wildlife Center and the Wye Marsh are both non profit organizations. If you would like to make a donation to the Wye Marsh, go to www.wyemarsh.com, or the Toronto Wildlife Center at www.wildlifecenter.com.

You can check on the particular status of this swan at the Toronto Wildlife Center website, citing reference number 20065756.

submitted photos