Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has been a while since the last update. I have been working with a group of fellow advocates and In Defense of Animals to help bring attention to the DNR's Mute Swan slaughter that continues in Michigan, and also the goose gassings and round ups that are happening across the United States.

First, I am hoping that a lot of you will help me out. My friend, Pat, who helps me everyday with the birds, giving meds, cleaning up, etc, has started a Go Fund Me Page for me. She is trying to help me come up with enough money to purchase the almost 3 acres of land that is behind my house. The Township has decided after all these years to sell. If I do  not get to buy it, someone will be building a home basically in my backyard. Unfortunately, if this happens I will have to stop helping the injured birds. If I move, I lose my helper and I can't come home and check on everybody at lunch. I work 8 minutes from my house and struggle to get to work on time now. If I move, who knows what time I will have to wake up to make it there on time. Here is the link. Any little bit will help. It all adds up. Thank You for your support. https://gofund.me/b67a332c

In January and in April, over 14 dead swans were found on Maceday Lake in Waterford, MI. My friends and I had a necropsy done on a couple of the birds in January. The results came back as it was most likely a sweet toxin like antifreeze that killed them. In April, the DNR was called out, and so was PETA and the Media. The DNR took a couple birds and a couple dead squirrels to have them necopsied. They never did a toxin study, but said the birds died from a parasite, most likely that they picked up from eating snails around a bubbler. I have pictures of this lake, there was no bubbler. The DNR officer told my friend  that the bubbler was on the adjoining lake. This would mean that the birds ate on the one lake, then flew to the other to die. Highly unlikely. Ironically, since the Media came out and PETA offered a $5000.00 reward, I have not heard of anymore dead swan sitings on this lake.

We have been super busy with injured bird calls. We had one that was shot in the neck. He is on the Go Fund Me Page. It took some time, but he is now able to hold his head up and walk around. Unfortunately, he is mostly blind. I do believe he can partially see, because he finds the food bowls pretty good.

We have another bird that was hit in the face with a propeller or got her head caught in something that sliced her cheeks up. Her stitches didn't hold up, but she is doing well. Her face looks like a science experiment, but she is able to eat, and bathe and preen. I feel bad that she had to leave behind her mate. I have people watching out for him. I think if I posted a picture, they would make me take it down. 

We did get lucky with one rescue and were actually able to find the mate a few days later. What a nice reunion that was. We could have gotten them the same day, but the ladies that spotted them and 2 others in the road, had the DNR breathing down their necks. The officer told the ladies they were not allowed to touch the birds, as the birds were walking on a sidewalk right next to a busy road where they were trying to cross to get to the water. Friends went out later, and took one out of a small pond that smelled like sewage, and the injured one was picked up a few days later in someone's yard.

We lost a couple babies due to turtle bites and maggots had taken over. We cleaned them up and gave them meds, but the internal injuries and stress was too much for them. I know we tried, but it's always tough.

Anyway, there have been many more, but I don't want to make this a book. I did want to mention that I have been volunteering with In Defense of Animals, and they recently sent a letter to Governor Whitmer to shed light on the swan issue and to request that she stop the swan slaughter. They will also be sending out an alert. I will forward that on when I receive it. My friend and I wrote it up. We just have to wait for them to give the all clear. If you have time, please contact Governor Whitmer and ask her to make the DNR officials, who she appoints by the way, to show us their Michigan based studies and the science behind their claims against the swans. We would like to see a moratorium placed on all swan  killings, until the DNR can show us these things. Even if you live out of state you can still contact her and  ask her why anyone would want to visit a state that slaughters their swans? and you don't have any factual science for doing so. Stress the science. In Defense of Animals is hoping to get a zoom meeting with her in the near future. 

 517-335-7858 (Constituent Services),

 Governor Gretchen Whitmer
        P.O. Box 30013
        Lansing, Michigan 48909

Sorry for the long update, but I know many of you like to hear what is going on. Again if you can help me out with the land purchase, my extremely stressful days will become a lot less stressful. We will keep doing our best to help these guys, but I will need some help in order to do it. 

Thank You for Your Support!

Take Care,

Karen