Hi Everyone,

UPDATE - THE GREENWOOD LAKE SWANS ARE SAFE!!!
I WAS INFORMED THAT THE USDA CAME OUT AND ASSESSED THE NJ SWAN FAMILY AND THERE WAS NO REACTION TO JETSKI TEST.
RECOMMENDATION WAS TO LEAVE THEM ALONE. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE PHONE CALLS AND SENT LETTERS. I THINK IT HELPED A GREAT DEAL. 

There is a petition to continue the fight for them. Please sign: 
                                          
 https://www.change.org/p/greenwood-lake-commission-help-save-greenwood-lake-swans-from-being-killed?recruiter=177393&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&fbclid=IwAR1BVpMwcGGPTgsJn-Y9zw1FPq4kU7hjFiwEklrlBYHqr4iY3H1PUWx7tiQ  

  ***  For those of you that do know, I rescue injured swans and  geese in Michigan, and started doing this about 13 years ago. In a nutshell, I first started fighting for the geese in Michigan, when I witnessed my first illegal goose round up on our Township Nature Park. Then, around Christmas one year, I found a swan whose wing was broken and frozen in the lake. I got her free, and made a little shelter for her. I did not know what to do. I could not get a hold of any rehab places, and none of them called me back when I left messages. When I  went back to check on her one time, ( I was married at the time, and could not bring her home), her shelter was totally  gone and she was just laying there on the cold snow. My niece and I ran up to her and I held her as she died in my arms. It was Christmas day and I will never ever forget her and how she died, because I could not help her properly.

I began volunteering at the local nature center after I found a swan with lead poisoning. I told them I would pay for treatment no matter the cost, and they turned me down and euthanized the swan. I have since, treated several swans that have had lead and they survived and now have good homes. I continued to volunteer at the center for a little while. I would listen as they would tell people who called to just throw a blanket over the injured goose or swan. I thought that's crazy. It's not that easy. I decided, along with someone I had met on the phone, to start helping with the capture of the birds, and the rest is history. 

This past spring and summer the injuries were horrible. We treated more Mute Swans and geese hit by boats, jet skis, and cars this summer than ever before. Some were wrapped in fishing line. Some hit power lines, and some were attacked by snapping turtles and even Minks. The injuries have been some of the worst I have seen.  One mama swan was hit in the face by a boat propeller. Her sinuses were sliced and so was one of her eyes. She could not be saved. Her mate and 2 babies are safe in their new home and no longer on the lake. No animal should have to endure such pain. The will they have to live is incredible, and we believe every one of these poor birds deserve a chance to live.

 I am doing my best to get the birds the medical attention they deserve, but it has really taking its toll financially. Vet bills have been astronomical, and I have another appointment Monday, 09/29/20, for a surgery on Daniel, a Pekin duck that dislocated the joint in his leg. I am so grateful that I have a full time job, or I would have had to stop rescuing a long time ago. I have also been lucky to have some people step up with donations in the past whenever I reached out for help. They know I'm  desperate, or I would not ask.  This summer, however,  has just pounded me, and I just can't seem to get above water. I get loans to pay off credit cards, only to run them up again. I do not go on vacation, do not buy new clothes, do not visit my family in Maryland or my dad, who has been in a memory care facility for years. Everything I work for goes to these  helpless, injured birds. It is so heartbreaking if we lose one, but I can guarantee it is not because we didn't try.

I am reaching out to everyone in hopes that you appreciate what we are doing and would like us to continue making a difference in these swans and geese lives, and might be willing to make a monetary donation, or maybe help with items on our want list. My credit cards are pretty maxed and this operation will definitely deplete what is left. So any help  you can give to help these birds, would be greatly appreciated and would certainly help my stress level. I do not have a 501C3. My want list will be on my Help Our Waterfowl Facebook page soon or you can email me   helpourwaterfowl@gmail.com  and I can send it to you.  This is the link to the donation page. I used to use it when I was trying to stop the swan slaughter in 2011. We were making brochures and putting up signs back then. (I haven't stopped fighting for them either). Now I use the page when I need help for the injured birds. 

http://www.helpourwaterfowl.org/donation.html

Thank You for caring and helping these birds. I will continue to help them and fight for them as long as I can. 

Take Care and please stay safe. 

Karen