In the last 3 days, one adult swan and one cygnet have been fatally crushed by hired boats in the same lock. This is despite signage at each point the lock gates are operated from, with a clear instruction not to operate the lock with swans in. Risks are explained and contact information is provided for who to call for help.

Last year in Bath, almost a dozen cygnets died in the locks. Some were left in there when too young- becoming exhausted and hypothermic and eventually drowning. Others were crushed by boats. And others let through the wrong way and then killed without the protection of their parents. Swans lived in these areas before the locks were built and human action is causing them to further suffer and then perish. 

Given people are choosing to ignore the signs, we are petitioning to be able to leave information sheets on hire boats. These would be designed by us (Bath Swan Rescue) and contain information about how to safeguard wildlife near locks. It would also explain the legal consequences of negligence towards swans, and include our rescue details. Ideally we would love for boat hires to implement a form that people hiring boats have to sign to say they’ve read this information. But having it on board would be a start. 

Both sets of boaters who killed the swan/cygnet didn’t stop or tell anyone. It was boaters behind who noticed, and the perpetrators who killed the adult swan were then caught up with and admitted to having let him in, tried to fill the lock with him, and crushed him to death. Both knew they had killed these animals and didn’t notify anyone.  

We have contacted Canal and River Trust multiple times over the last few years asking for measures in place to safeguard the swans at this particular location. They have not permitted us to put up signage and insisted all signage must be produced by their team (which never happened). Their only solution was to implement a notice asking people not to feed the swans, believing they would leave if so. Sadly, these swans are territory not food driven. Last year when their lives were in immediate danger, we were able to move them many miles away for their safety (to an area with supplementary feeding) but they flew home. Despite not feeding at this site for months, they still returned here to nest. Advising people not to feed them is not an effective solution. We also notified CRT when their signs were destroyed by bad weather and they opted not to replace them. 

We are exhausted and heart broken. Please sign so we can try to reduce this yearly man-made tragedy. 

The Bath Swan Rescue Team