Dominant swan sparked rescues
AN animal welfare charity believes a dominant swan in the area could be the reason behind two rescues mounted to save birds from a canal in Widnes.
The RSPCA teamed up with Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service to help rescue two swans which were trapped in a canal overflow pipe in the St Helens Canal – also known as the Sankey Canal – just off Johnsons Lane on Monday, October 14.
Just days earlier the RSPCA had been called to a female swan and a cygnet after they had become stuck in a trench which runs through the canal.
A male swan was perched nearby on an island and was unable to take off so he was also rescued.
On Monday, a male and female swan had accessed a large overflow pipe and were about 20 feet inside and unable to get out.
RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) Steve Wickham joined two firefighters in a water rescue.
They used a water raft to access the pipe where the swans were and gas monitoring equipment had to be used.
AWO Wickham said:
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“We have to be aware from a health and safety point of view about the potential for a gas build-up in a confined space but everything was fine.
“I managed to get hold of the male swan and we took him to safety before rescuing the female.
“This is the second time in the last few days I have rescued swans in this area and I believe they have been frightened by something – perhaps another dominant swan
– so are ending up in dangerous situations in their attempts to get away. They both appeared healthy but a little underweight so we have taken them to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich and when they have recovered we will release them at another, safer site.
“We are always grateful to the fire service for their assistance in these situations and we often work together in water rescue situations.”