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Swan Stuck On Thin Ice For Nearly Two Weeks

Posted at 6:29 PM, Dec 19, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-19 21:39:31-05

BITELY, Mich.,–Every morning for the past two weeks Diana and Gordon Velderman have woke up, looked off their porch and thought ‘what can they do to rescue two swans.’

The couple says the swans have been out there for nearly two weeks, they say one has a broken wing and its mate wont leave its side as swans mate for life.

The swans are believed to be Trumpeter or Tundra Swans.  A DNR officer has been out there to check things out, but the ice is still too thin, making it too risky to rescue them on the middle of the lake.

Diana and Gordon say they have been trying to think of all different kinds of ideas to try to get food to them. “Little remote control helicopters or something you know, drop some food, potato launcher to shoot something out there,” said Gordon.

The Velderman’s say they just don’t want to give up and they of course only want to find a way to save them in the safest way possible.

The DNR says if the swans move a little closer to the edge they may be able to get them off the ice and a West Michigan Wildlife Rehab Center says they will take them in, if they can be rescued.

The Velderman’s say a DNR officer was back out there on Thursday to see what they could do to try to help.