Rescue Team Saves Swan With Two Fishing Hooks in Body

When rescuers first spotted the young swan at Starmount Lodges in Bury, they could see one fishing hook lodged in his neck. What they didn't know was that a second hook was hidden deep inside his body.

Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue responded to the call and carefully captured the injured cygnet. Back at their center, staff quickly realized the hook was too deep to remove without anesthesia and rushed him to nearby Ashleigh Vets.

After removing the first hook, an x-ray revealed troubling news. A second hook was stuck in the swan's esophagus, requiring the bird to be transferred to a specialist vet for more complex care.

Doctors initially hoped to remove the second hook with an endoscope, but the swan needed full surgery. The procedure was successful, and the young bird is now resting comfortably at the rescue center before his eventual release back to the wild.

"It's very frustrating when we get any sort of litter victim or fishing tackle victim come into the center," said Patrick Jackson, wildlife care manager at Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue. The organization treated 16 animals last year for injuries caused by discarded fishing tackle alone.

Jackson emphasized that most anglers are responsible and often clean up after others. "Fishing groups generally spend a lot of time tidying up discarded line, discarded fishing hooks, removing floats and hooks from trees," he said.

The Ripple Effect

The swan's recovery story is touching hearts on social media and sparking important conversations about waterway safety. The rescue's posts have encouraged people to be more mindful about proper disposal of fishing gear, potentially preventing future wildlife injuries.

Emergency veterinary care for cases like this comes at a significant cost for the nonprofit rescue. Community donations are helping cover the swan's two surgeries and ongoing care for five other swans currently recovering at the center.

Simple actions make a difference: taking fishing line and hooks home, properly disposing of gear, and supporting local wildlife rescues creates safer habitats for the animals who share our waterways.