VISITORS to Arrow Valley Lake are being urged not to offer food to the swans and geese away from the water’s edge.
Staff at Wychbold Swan Rescue Centre, which monitors the county’s waterways, say the birds are wandering onto the footpaths and even into the car park in the search for food, putting them at risk of attack by dogs.
“We have had dog attacks and we’re asking, if people want to feed the swans can they do so at the water’s edge and not from the footpath,” said John Stewart from the rescue centre.
He added thee had also been several incidents of swans and geese being chased into the lake by dogs, which should be on leads to protect the wildlife.
“You have cygnets, goslings, grey lag geese and canadian geese all at the park and it is important to keep them safe.”
He added that the bird population at the lake was higher than usual due to the outbreak of bird flu earlier in the year.
“Both Worcester and Stratford had outbreaks with some 100 birds being lost due to it,” said John.
“Arrow Valley Lake was one of the places which was free from the disease so we placed many of the healthy swans from the flu areas here to keep them safe.”
Wychbold Swan Rescue is entirely self-funding and specialises in caring for sick and injured waterfowl.
It also has a help and advice line should residents come across an injured swan or goose.
For more information on its work, click here
