Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: Swan in parking lot, maybe with blood on chest and wobbling, didn
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 16 December 2013

Hi Dawn:

Most states want to see the Mute Swans dead and will not intervene to help. If the swan was in a parking lot, had blood and wobbled, it would indicate that it had possibly been hit by a car or maybe, ran or flew into a vehicle. In any case, the swan should have been captured and taken to a NO KILL waterfowl/wildlife shelter to be examined, treated and rehabilitated if necessary prior to release.

Animal Control normally does not involve itself with wildlife, but there are instances where they will at least take control of an injured bird or animal and try to seek treatment. Again, most states have regulated that a dead Mute swan is a good swan and either let it die or put it down. The same thing may have occurred even if the swan had been taken to the shelter, by state mandate, it might have been left untreated or euthanized. If the swan should return, then we would suggest you find a NO KILL shelter that will at least try and help the swan.

On another note, if there was minimal blood, the bird may have been slightly scuffed and stunned, but able to continue without intervention. So, unless it returns, there is no way to determine without a veterinarian's examination whether the swan was severely injured. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Swan in parking lot, maybe with blood on chest and wobbling, didn't move for cars/people -- Dawn -- 15 December 2013
Re: Swan in parking lot, maybe with blood on chest and wobbling, didn -- The Regal Swan -- 16 December 2013
Re: Swan in parking lot, maybe with blood on chest and wobbling, didn -- Dawn -- 18 December 2013
Re: Swan in parking lot, maybe with blood on chest and wobbling, didn -- The Regal Swan -- 18 December 2013