We would suggest that you not attempt to do anything to introduce another swan at this time. As much as you think this bird is traumatized, usually death to a swan mate produces a day or so of calling and looking for the mate. If she saw it, she knows that the mate is dead. After that initial looking and calling, nature does not allow for prolonged grief as in humans. If this were the case, wildlife could not care for their remaining young, carry on their lives, etc. Grief would mean the possibility of losing more offspring or mates and even one's own life in the wild. So, she probably is not even thinking about her mate.

The fear of seeing or knowing that a predator is in the area would mean that she does not wish to go back to the area of the nest. Nests and eggs are vulnerable to predators.

Our major concern would be her safety. If a predator has been successful in killing one prey, it will return. She needs to be placed indoors (day and night) for a couple of days so that if the predator is in the area, it knows it can't get to her and may go elsewhere. If the swan house is open and not fully closed (on the sides, under and over) she may feel vulnerable in this area also.

Ensure that the swan house cannot be penetrated by a predator. Feed her in the swan house and use it as a night pen from now on. Let her out onto the pond approximately 1 hour after sun-up and bring her in 1-2 hours before sundown. Predators hunt for prey at dusk, through the night and right before sun-up. Now, having said this, if a predator is hungry and cannot find nocturnal food sources, it may change its behavior and hunt during the day. This is why she needs to be brought inside for a couple of days. Once you release her out onto the pond during the daytime, ensure that she stays in the middle of the pond and not on the bank. A sitting swan on the bank is a dead swan if a predator is in the area.

Finally, you can get her to eat by feeding her small treats such as bread or lettuce. Although these may be an acquired taste, you need to entice her to eat. If she continues not eating for more than a day, you may need to get her to a veterinarian so that he can tube feed, place her on an i.v. to ensure that she is not dehydrated or give her a B-12 shot to promote feeding. In any case, keep an eye on her. In all probability she will begin eating on her own very shortly. An animal is not going to stop eating because a mate has died. However, an underlying illness or cause may be the more probable cause.

A major cause for not introducing a new swan at this time is the possibility that she may reject a new swan at this time and the new swan may provide another meal for the predator. A new swan may succumb to a predator because it does not know the safe areas of the habitat. The Regal Swan