THE fire service has been thanked after sailing to the rescue of a swan sick from lead poisoning in Arrow Valley Lake.
A special boat-equipped team from Droitwich were dispatched to Redditch to pick up the bird after attempts by the Wychbold based Swan Rescue Centre had come to nought.
And the centre’s Jan Harrigan said the likely culprits for the swan’s illness were unthinking anglers fishing the lake.
“The bird is still very sick and would have died if it had not been rescued, so we would like to thank the Fire Service very much,” said Jan, who set the centre up more than 40 years ago.
“The poison is in its blood stream and has attacked its organs and it’s currently receiving antibiotics every day.”
She said anglers using small lead weights were a problem for water birds like swans as they can easily digest ‘No8s and under’ that is weights of 0.06grammes and below.
“It’s not illegal, but my advice to them would be not to use them,” said Jan.
Treatment at the centre costs about £150 per swan and if anyone wants to make a donation they can do so by sending a cheque, payable to Wychbold Swan Rescue to Jan Harrigan, Walkmills Farm, Wychbold, WR9 0DH.
