Its been an incredibly busy week here at FLWC! Check out these photos of our amazing volunteer crew rescuing a Tundra Swan from the ice on Lake Monona yesterday. One of our volunteers had noticed that this bird was having trouble lifting its head, neck, and wings, and it was struggling to keep itself upright about 300 yards offshore. After careful observation of the swan, he decided to get some extra help from others to make this rescue attempt. After a daring and successful rescue, the swan was admitted as patient #15-0003. Clinical signs made us suspect heavy metal toxicity, so we took a blood sample for testing. Lo and behold, this swan has acute lead poisoning - the values were off the charts! Swans and other waterfowl most often get lead poisoning by ingesting lead pellets, fishing sinkers or other tackle from the bottom of the lake. Although lead ammunition was banned for waterfowl hunting in 1991, spent lead shot still remains in the waterways. Something as simple one pellet or sinker can cause a very slow and painful death for many birds such as this one. This is the third bird in the past two weeks that weve admitted due to lead toxicity. Were hopeful that the swan will pull through, but it will take a remarkable amount of time and care from our staff and volunteers. Its a long road to recovery, but thats what were here for! Now with two birds on costly lead chelation therapy, your contributions towards their care is greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate, please visit https://giveshelter.org/make-a-donation.html. Select Four Lakes Wildlife Center and type Swan and Bald Eagle in the comment section.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:23:52 +0000
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