On February 14, 2025, Brett noticed one of the swans on our lake had a fishing lure hooked near his eye and up under his beak. We immediately stopped our plans for the day and began calling various Virginia Wildlife Rescue organizations. They requested pictures of the swan, which we provided and after viewing them, they stated since it is a mute swan and not a native of Virginia, they could not help. I posted several videos on various social media sites asking if anyone could assist. The next day some trained wildlife rescuers, who saw our video contacted us and said they would come out to our property to help us that morning. They came prepared with a net, plyers and a vehicle to take the swan to a vet if needed. This was an answer to our prayers! However, after an unsuccessful attempt to catch the swan with the net, he flew off and kept his distance from that point on. Before they left, they advised us if we tried to do this ourselves, we could possibly harm the swan more by accidentally damaging his wings. That would mean a very painful and slow death for him, not to mention we could get injured as well. They offered to come back out later in the week provided the swan started coming near us again, so we were relieved and hopeful they would be able to help.
 
As the days went by, the hook near his eye fell off and it was dangling from his mouth. We were hoping the other hook would come loose and he would be free, but that didn’t happen. We noticed he was unable to eat and drink water. The swan was increasingly fighting the hook trying to get it out himself. He looked miserable and was bleeding a lot. He was starting to come closer to us again so we called the rescue people on Tuesday and asked them if they could come before snow storm, but he was sick with the flu.
 
 Another thought we had was to find a vet to come out and sedate the swan so we could remove the hook safely, and or take it to a rehab. However due to the snow storm that came through the following Wednesday, all the vets were closed for two days. We contacted the local zoo but they had no resources, people or equipment to help us. It was a long and painful week for my husband and I to watch this swan in such agony in our backyard, knowing time was of the essence in saving him and not be able to a thing.
 
Not one to give up, Brett started devising a plan to capture the swan. He spent much time on the internet researching on how to keep the swan as calm as possible, special plyers he would need, equipment and how many other people it would take to assist him. We called our friend Brayden Woods, who is known by many for his business of lawn and irrigation services here in the neighborhood. We asked if he would help us as he told us he had done this once before. He didn’t hesitate a second and graciously came over to help Brett catch the swan, but again, he was too quick and got away.
 
It had been a week now of trying to free the swan of the hooks and we were feeling helpless and hopeless. When we were finally able to talk to a vet, he didn’t know of anyone who would come out to sedate a swan, but if we could get it to the vet, he could give us some contacts.
 
On Saturday morning we saw the swan fighting even more so and with the help of binoculars, it appeared he was unable to lift his head. He was in great distress and when exhausted from wrestling so much, he stopped and floated with his head on his body. He is not coming anywhere near land. It is 17 degrees outside and the only way Brett believes he will catch the swan is to go out on the pontoon and get him. Brandon and Brayden laid their plans down for the morning and came over to assist him. They took their equipment onto the boat and cruised out to the middle of the lake where the swan was floating. The swan put up a good fight but they were able to eventually net him and bring him onboard the boat. Brandon and Brett helped hold the swan down and it was then Brayden discovered the hook at the bottom of the lure had attached itself under the swan’s right wing, which explained why he could not hold his head up. Brayden cut the lure in half and then was able remove the hook lodged in his tongue, and then the one hooked under his wing.  After about 30 minutes of this “surgery” they were able to release him back into the water. The swan quickly disappeared and we did not see him for the next two days. We had heard they will isolate after trauma in order to heal, so we hoped and prayed this was the case. However, seeing that his tongue was badly damaged, the threat of infection setting in, and knowing how weak and frail he was from not eating, gave us great concern he may not make it. We at least had peace we did everything we could to help him regardless of the outcome.
 
On Tuesday morning, much to our delight the swan swam to our dock with his mate! He looked beautiful and appeared to be eating, although slowly and was drinking water.  It has been a couple of days now and he is coming around us and best of all, he seems to trust us once again. After observing him all week, it appears he isn’t suffering from any infection, which is remarkable.
 
On a side note, the female mate happens to be a legacy swan! She the only surviving cygnet of the former two swans that resided on our lake for years! They have been living and nesting over on Arbor Landing Lake the last few years in the back yard of some friends of ours. We were able to watch the female grow up and much to our surprise, make her way over to our lake! We hope they will nest here and be successful in raising cygnets in the future.
 
Brett, Brandon and Brayden are true heroes of mine! They laid their time, energy, money and risked their own safety to help keep this swan alive and in 17- degree weather!  They did not want me to tell this story, but I felt it was too amazing not to share. I cannot thank them enough for what they sacrificed. I truly believe the swan would have died without their intervention.
 
Kindly,
Mecca Hawkins