Public warned not to rescue 'swans stuck in ice' at Sunderland ponds

The sightings of swans, who appear to be “trapped” in icy ponds in Roker and Herrington Country Park over the past few days have alarmed local animal lovers.

It comes as Sunderland battered freezing temperatures and snow in the past week.

Worried residents shared their concerns on social media, but the Swan Sanctuary has warned against trying to break the ice to help the animals.

Steve Knight from the Swan Sanctuary said:

“We often get calls during the winter about ‘swans stuck in the ice’, in our experience this is rarely the case.

"Swans, especially lone ones, will stay out in the middle of a body of water during freezing temperatures and will keep an area of water free of ice, simply by being there. This is usually in the middle of the water because often this is the deepest point and so is the one which will remain free of ice the longest.

“Being there surrounded by thin ice this will also mean they are safer from foxes as the predator will not be able to cross the thin ice without going through it.

“Breaking the ice to try and help may exacerbate the situation because the ice that reforms after being broken will be thicker and so then may support the weight of the fox. If you feel that removing the ice would help then it would be better to do this using salt so that the ice melts and will not easily refreeze.

“However most of the time our advice is to leave the situation unless the swan if obviously in distress, we have come across swans which are struggling on a completely frozen body of water but never one where the swan is actually frozen in place, despite reports to the contrary.

Temperatures are expected to get milder this week, with the ice and snow melting away.

If you see an injured or distressed animal, keep away from it and contact the RSPCA’s Sunderland branch on 0191 250 7148.