A SWAN died after being attacked by dogs at Ormsgill reservoir. 

Two witnesses contacted the Bardsea Bird Sanctuary and reported that a swan was ‘savaged’ by two Staffordshire bull terriers dog at 6pm on Tuesday.

The injured swan managed to get into the water but subsequently drowned minutes later, said bosses at Bardsea Bird Sanctuary.

Cumbria Police was contacted after the incident at 6.24pm and were made aware of a swan having died in the area of Ormsgill Reservoir. A spokesman said no crimes have been identified.

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Elisabeth Ashleigh, of Bardsea Bird Sanctuary, said the situation was ‘horrific.’
She said: “There are a lot of feathers left in the bank. This quite often happens in Ormsgill Reservoir and it is just an awful thing to happen.

“Normally, the dogs don’t kill the swans -  they injure them. We have had to rescue birds from there before with blood all over their wings or legs but they have managed to get their way into the water.

“Obviously this one didn’t have the chance to launch itself in time into the water to get away.”

She said the two dogs involved were a 'mainly-black' Staffy and one tanned.

Ms Ashleigh said the swans in the reservoir are usually ‘pretty tamed.’

She said: “The swans just sit on the bank and they get fed but it only takes one vicious dog and one irresponsible owner to let a dog attack a swan or whatever is sitting on the bank.

“Where the birds come out of the water it would be a very good idea for those areas to be fenced off. People could still throw food but the dogs couldn’t get to the birds.”

Bardsea Bird Sanctuary posted on social media saying: “This is being treated as a wildlife crime, and we would like anyone with any information to come forward and message us in confidence.

“The position of the swan now is not where the attack took place.”