You will need to get a boat and try to capture the cygnet to remove the hook and line. The cygnet may need veterinary care with antibiotics. The only problem is that if these are Mute Swans, Michigan DNR (at taxpayer expense) is trying to kill all of them so that they can bring in the larger species of swan, Trumpeters Swans for Trophy Waterfowl hunting purposes. This means that many veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitation entities are being required to let the swans die or kill them. So, you will need to ask around for a true no-kill facility or wait until the cygnet and parents come on land. If you can make a quick snatch of the cygnet and safely remove the hook (cut the barb and pull the hook back through being careful not to injure the beak--- if the beak is injured, the young bird may starve because the beak does not work properly).

You will also need to be extremely careful as the parents can be defensive (not aggressive as alluded by the Michigan DNR) in protecting the young. Please let us know how this works out. We are totally against the eradication of the Mute Swans based upon non-scientific research and for an ulterior motive, making money off hunting permits. These swans, especially their cygnets which are sometimes clubbed and stomped to death by volunteers killing the parents to control their populations, have been subjected to unspeakable cruelties. Thank you for taking the time to try and save this young bird's life. The Regal Swan