Lake View Trumpeter Swan

Admission Date: 16 October 2017
Outcome: Euthanized 21 November 2017
Location of Rescue: near Lake View, Iowa in Sac County
Cause of Admission / Condition: Grounded, unable to fly due to fracture right wing
Patient Status: Patient Archive

Thanks to Iowa DNR staff members stationed near Lake View, Iowa for rescuing this juvenile trumpeter swan. The swan has a compound humerus fracture, right wing. An x-ray was taken to check for any ingested lead, and while no ingested lead appeared, the swan did have several pieces of large-sized shot within the body.

Yes, this swan was shot. There is no season on trumpeter swans in Iowa.

If you have any information that will help the Iowa DNR, please call the Iowa Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline at 800-532-2020. This can be done anonymously.

Updates:

18 October 2017
Doc Riordan pinned the humerus in a 1.5 hour surgery.

30 October 2017
Antibiotics are finished and the swan was moved outside with a pool.

21 November 2017
Even with surgery to pin the bones for stability, the break did not heal. The bone is considered a non-union and this swan was euthanized.