Ask the Swan Specialist

Swan needs to be taken to wildlife facility and bathed in Dawn Dish Soap
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 1 July 2009
In Response To: Swan won't go back in the water after an oil spill (Howard kroplick)

Hi Howard:

You need to contact a wildlife/waterfowl rescue facility immediately and have the swan removed from the area and its feathers bathed in Dawn Dish Soap.

If the swan has petroleum or food oil on its feathers, it knows it cannot preen itself. This means that the oil from the swan's uropygial oil gland (preen gland) cannot be spread on the feathers to keep them clean and water repellant. The bird will drown or get sick if it goes back into the water because of its lack of water repellancy and inability to keep dry and warm. If the bird refuses to go into the water, it will starve, lose its feathers due to lack of cleanliness and finally, with the summer temperatures, the bird may die from dehydration and heat related illness. Please let us know how this turns out. Thanks. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Swan won't go back in the water after an oil spill -- Howard kroplick -- 30 June 2009
Swan needs to be taken to wildlife facility and bathed in Dawn Dish Soap -- The Regal Swan -- 1 July 2009