AN animal welfare charity came to the rescue after a swan ended up with fishing wire wrapped around its wing at a beauty spot on the outskirts of Barrhead.
The Scottish SPCA received a number of calls from concerned members of the public who spotted the distressed bird at the Dams to Darnley Country Park.
The swan initially evaded capture but an expert was eventually able to catch it on Thursday and remove the wire.
People who go fishing at the popular park are now being reminded to always make sure they dispose of any used equipment responsibly.
Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer Rebecca Carr told the Barrhead News: “Members of the public had contacted our helpline to report the bird with the wire caught around its wing.
“We had attended the pond but hadn’t been able to contain the bird to provide assistance. Thankfully, I managed to catch the swan and cut the wire.
“I checked the bird over and there were no other injuries, so I released it back on to the pond.”
Rebecca has pointed out that, although this incident had a happy ending, animals aren’t always so lucky when people throw away old fishing gear or other rubbish.
She said: “All litter has the potential to be dangerous or lethal to wildlife.
“These incidents are easily avoidable if people take their rubbish away and dispose of it responsibly.”
Anyone who is concerned about the welfare of an animal should contact the Scottish SPCA helpline on 03000 999 999.
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