An adult Tundra Swan, rescued by Sam Olyer of Kane, after it flew into a tractor-trailer March 13 on Rt. 219 in Johnsonburg, is slowly recovering at the Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Saegertown,  according to center staff. 

    Tundra Swans, a federally protected species, are large all-white waterfowl, with long, straight necks and a black bill and face. They have 66-inch wingspans. This particular swan weighed 12-and-a-half pounds!

    Pennsylvania-licensed wildlife rehabilitator Sue DeArment, at the Tamarack center, said the swan Olyer rescued (after watching it crash and land) is gaining strength, drinking treated water, and nibbling a little at some grain. The swan is being treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine for a bruised left wing, DeArment said. Rehabilitators do not know whether the swan also sustained internal injuriesâ€"which would be a greater problem for its recovery.

    Olyer, and his daughter Faith Fetterman did the right thing by bringing the Tundra swan in for treatment, but unfortunately, should not have attempted to force-feed it, as that could have caused serious damage, DeArment said.

    She has some additional advice for those who come across injured waterfowl or wildlife. First, watch out for your own safety. Injured swans, for example, can unexpectedly bring their wings up and “put their beak on you,” she said. If injured birds or animals don’t try to fight back, and they just let people pick them up, that’s a sign that they have a very serious condition,” DeArment said.

    If you have taken possession of an injured animal, DeArment advises to keep it in a dark, warm, and quiet room, and not feed it food or water until after contacting your nearest Pennsylvania Wildlife representatives or trained rehabilitators. Injured animals should generally be kept, and transported to the experts in a box or pet carrier that is covered with a blanket. And although rehabilitation centers in Pennsylvania are few, and far between, please refrain from playing the car radio loudly as you transport them, as this further stresses the animal, she said. Tamarack has a list of 25 trained volunteers willing to help transport injured species to the center.

    Sick or inured Tundra Swans aren’t uncommon at the Tamarack. Sometimes they have been shot. More often, they have been poisoned by ingesting lead, either from fishing sinkers, or hunters’ shot deposited in the water, which the bottom-feeding swans believed was food.

    DeArment hopes that this swan will be healed well enough to be released soon.

“I can’t force healing, but I’d like to get it back as soon as possible because swans are migrating through, and I don’t want it to miss that migration,” DeArment said. Swans that are released when there are no flocks around to join up with “don’t do as well,” she explained.

    The non-profit Tamarack rehabilitation center is staffed with volunteers, and relies purely on charitable donations to feed, and care for the birds and animals they rescueâ€"an expensive task. In 2007 alone, the center rescued 26 birds of prey, 12 song and game birds, 34 waterfowl, 47 mammals and 2 reptiles. Currently, in addition to the swan, volunteers are caring for snapping turtles, a Bald Eagle, Mourning Doves, some Red-Tailed Hawks and more.