Swan Rescue: Freeing the Cygnet

Everyone got quite excited at the Margolis residence in Watermill when a Cygnet (baby Swan) somehow got itself caught under a floating dock on Mecox Bay.  Rescuer Missy Hargraves responded and did not hesitate to jump in the bay to try and help the little swan.  When she could not loosen the baby by reaching under the dock, they had to come up with another plan. 

It was decided to try and help the swan by removing some of the deckings from above and lifting it out.  This turned into a group effort when several people joined in to rescue the baby.  The dock, however, did not give up its planking easily and it soon began to turn into a major project.  

Missy, a veteran animal rescuer from Hurricane Katrina, was not going to give up.  Even after the swan was exposed from above, it had to be carefully removed so it would not further injure its wings in the process.

Swans get themselves into all sorts of problems.  Especially when they first leave the family group to strike out on their own.  The surface of roads look like the surface of waterways to the new flyers and they often crash land on the hard road surfaces and often break bones in the process.  Also, they need an extensive runway to get airborne again.  Many times you can see them quite confused standing on the side of the roadways.

The center admits many swans each year.  They are often difficult and naturally reluctant and usually uncooperative being handled by humans.  It is a little intimidating at times to give care to a hissing angry swan.

In the end, it was a great success and the cygnet swam off without even a “Thank you Ma'am" to our brave rescuer Missy and her friends who assisted in this rescue.  Thank you one and all.