For about seven years, Fountains Golf and Banquet Center has cared for an injured swan.
Employees named the bird Lola.
“We think she has a broken wing or is crippled,” said Len, a Fountains staff member.
Employees feed her and keep her safe in winter. Every year, they keep part of the pond free of ice so she can get in and stay safe from dogs and even coyotes.
“We do this at a great expense to the course,” Len said. “We feed her in the winter. We feed her in the summer. We have thought about shipping her somewhere, but she is a big girl. She’s taller than you. We are also afraid she would not be able to survive the trip.”
Every once in a while a customer sees Lola, and feels moved to try to help her, he said.
Lola is a Mute Swan, which according to the Bird Center in Washtenaw County is not a federally protected species.
That makes it more difficult to get help for the bird, said Carol Akelof of The Bird Center.
“She may just be in the best place she can be,” Akelof said. “If you call the DNR, they will solve the problem with a gun.”
Fountain’s deserve credit for taking care of Lola, she said.
“It sound like they really stepped up to take care of her,” Akelof added.