Anglers causing swan casualties

A WILDLIFE charity is appealing for anglers to take more care after seeing a sharp rise in swan casualties caused by discarded fishing tackle.

Volunteers and veterinary surgeons at the Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital, based at Brandsby, near York, have seen 27 swans injured so far this month as a result of dumped fishermen’s lines and hooks in the Ouse.

The same problem as been found on the Selby Canal with fishing lines and hooks discarded by anglers.

The charity workers had to launch their rescue boat for a third time in a week on the Ouse last Friday when they were alerted to a severely injured nesting swan near to Naburn Lock.

The swan was found suffering with a triple-barbed fishing lure lodged in its neck, and line wrapped tightly around its wings and feet. It was treated on the banks of the Ouse and was later returned to it’s waiting mate and eggs.