Local people rescue cygnets from icy lake

Local residents worked together to rescue cygnets that were stuck on the frozen lake in the Lake Pleasure Grounds recently. 

A concerned woman alerted the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital after noticing two cygnets unable to move when the lake froze in recent cold weather. It was feared that if the cygnets remained stuck near the edge of the lake, they could be vulnerable to predators such as foxes. 

Amanda Levine and her daughter Holly, who volunteer for the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital, visited the scene and, with the help of a local man, were able to break the ice and move them to safety. 

“It was the cygnets’ first winters, so they have never come across ice before, and they didn’t know how to move,” said Amanda. 

“We had to break the ice, but the process actually scared one cygnet enough to make it get up on its feet. It waddled and slid until it was much further down and managed to get up onto the grass.” 

“It was a bit of a relief; they’re big, and you’re always hearing about swans being strong enough to break someone’s arm, so I was thinking ‘I don’t want to go anywhere near it!’ 

“I was quite pleased that it was further away!” 

Both cygnets were safely freed from the ice. 

The Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital is available to contact at 07850 778752 for animal enquiries, including emergencies, or 01980 629470 for general enquiries. 

Pictured by Amanda Levine