Nesting swan dies after suspected dog attack

10 hours ago

Alexandra BassinghamWest of England

The female swan is believed to have abandoned the nest after her mate was severely injured in a suspected dog attack and later had to be put down

Bath Swan Rescue A swan sitting on its nest. It has its head tucked into its body. Green grass and reeds can be seen behind the swan, which is on the edge of a path. — The female swan is believed to have abandoned the nest after her mate was severely injured in a suspected dog attack and later had to be put down

A male swan which had been nesting beside a canal path with its mate had to be put down after a suspected dog attack.

The bird was found "severely injured" at Barton Country Park in Bradford-on-Avon at about 09:00 BST on Friday, Wiltshire Police said.

Bath Swan Rescue said witness reports and analysis of the swan's injuries meant it "highly suspects this was an attack from a dog".

The volunteer rescue team has asked people to keep their dogs on leads around wildlife.

Amy Lovell, from Bath Swan Rescue, said: "The toll on the mate is immense.

"It appears she has abandoned the nest [and] the local community is heartbroken."

Woman 'completely heartbroken' after flat blaze

Titanic life jacket sells for £670,000 at auction

Garden made for girl with disability 'unbelievable'

Lovell said the Canal and River Trust had already put signs up alerting people to the nest and asking for dogs to be kept on leads.

"Unfortunately our volunteers constantly see people allow their dogs to chase, frighten and attack swans," she added. "It's a permanent worry for our team."

She said the decision to put the swan down was "the only ethical outcome" after multiple veterinary professionals from different organisations reviewed its injuries.

"As volunteers, we felt privileged to be able to be there for this beautiful boy in his final moments and ease his suffering. But the loss felt by the team is huge.

"Swans have to contend with so many man-made afflictions, like angling related injuries, it's hard for us when we attend something which could have been prevented."

She said the rescue team would monitor the site and support the female swan if she returned.

Lovell said across the UK there had been "many" cases of swans being killed by dogs as they tried to protect their eggs

Bath Swan Rescue A swan sitting on its nest in front of a barge with bicycles on it. The swan's nest on the grass. — Lovell said across the UK there had been "many" cases of swans being killed by dogs as they tried to protect their eggs

Wiltshire Police said a trail of feathers along the towpath and signs of a struggle indicate the possibility of a sustained attack.

A spokesperson for the force added: "While it is unconfirmed the injuries were from a dog, please take this as a timely reminder that it is nesting and lambing season, and however well trained your dog is, it can be a danger to ground nesting birds and livestock."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.