Impaled swan, now rehabbed, heads back into the wild
A swan found with an arrow shot through its body in Riverhead this summer has made a full recovery and will be released into the wild Tuesday, Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said.
The swan was found by a kayaker near Indian Island County Park on Friday, July 22. It was then brought to the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays where it made a full recovery.
It will be released at 11:00 a.m. at Indian Island Golf Course on County Road 105 in Riverhead.
Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said the SPCA is still pursuing charges against whomever shot the swan, and added that animal cruelty is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
The Suffolk SPCA is offering a $14,750 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest. The agency is able to offer such a high reward due to a large amount of donations that poured in after photos of the swan ran throughout regional news outlets, horrifying viewers, yet at the same time motivating them to help the investigation along.
The hunting arrow was removed, but the bird was at first not immediately able walk due to possible nerve damage, said Chief Gross said.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722. All calls will be kept confidential.
