On Tuesday, November 1, Lake Orion resident Joann Oinas Sabada posted a picture on Facebook’s Lake Orion Chat of a Mute Swan with a huge fishing lure imbedded in his beak on Buckhorn Lake, near Lapeer and Clarkston roads.
The swan and his mate are decade-old residents of the lake and residents wanted to help.
After dozens of people scanned the internet, called the DNR office and scanned DNR lists for licensed rescuers, they came up empty and it looked hopeless for the poor creature.
But finally a kind soul, Matt Lyson and his wife Theresa from Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, of Plymouth, Michigan, answered the call.
They are extremely busy and low on funds from running a sanctuary for hundreds of feathery friends, but they wouldn’t ignore a creature in pain, even though they live a long ways away and there is no guarantee they can catch the bird.
Please contribute to this man who on Saturday, November 5, drove almost four hours round trip to try to help a swan with his beak injury.
Lake Orion residents who couldn’t stand watching their winged neighbor suffer are forever grateful for their willingness to try.
Winter is coming and it will be hard enough for this guy without a fish hook/lure embedded in his beak.
Please donate to the sanctuary so Matt will at least be reimbursed for all the kindness, time and money he has offered to help birds who are in need.
You can mail a donation to Michigan Duck Rescue, P.O. Box 70156, Plymouth, MI 48170 or visit their website at michiganduckrescueandsanctuary.com and donate online. Thank you.
Heidi Taylor
Orion Township resident