“ …love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” - Kahlil Gibran

Swan Rescue, 2005

In the few years that I’ve been involved in wildlife rehabilitation, I’ve had the good fortune to meet some very interesting people. This past summer I became friends with a woman from Germany. I’ll call her “H”.

H is not a stranger to Rapid City. She has visited many times and particularly enjoys spending time at Canyon Lake feeding and observing the waterfowl that live there. She works for the Humane Society at home in Germany so when she noticed that one of the swans at Canyon Lake was not using one of its feet she felt compelled to help.

H spent time at the lake everyday so the birds had learned to trust her. She was able to catch the swan and promptly brought it to Canyon Lake Veterinary Hospital for evaluation.

A large ugly tumor was discovered on the bottom of the foot. The swan was scheduled for surgery the following day.

Meanwhile, back at the lake, the other swan was calling frantically and searching everywhere for its mate. H said it was just heartbreaking to watch and we hoped to return our patient to the lake and its mate as soon as possible.

The surgery went well. The tumor was large and painful and we were concerned that the incision may open up again once the swan became more active. The following day’s examination gave us reason to hope for a full recovery. The incision looked good, the swan was eating and was even beginning to bear weight on the injured foot. She was ready for a larger enclosure. She improved daily and each day her mate continued his searching and calling for her.

After a few days of recovery in the hospital it was time for the swan to return to the lake. H and I met at the clinic and loaded up the swan for the short trip to the lake. We located the other swan and carried “our” swan to a spot nearby. Hesitant to leave the confines of the carrier at first, our swan soon realized it was back home. She slowly, cautiously made her way to the top of a small hill.

Looking around as if searching for something, she soon spotted her mate. He noticed her at about the same time. At first they stood looking at each other as if they were thinking, “Is that really her?” and “Is that really him?” They slowly approached each other and then made their way back to the water together. Heads together, they exchanged “words” and then continued on their way further into the lake and disappeared around the bend.

H and I followed them and when they came out of the water again to groom and rest in the grass we sat in the grass and watched them. H told me about her life and her job in Germany and we spoke of our shared love of birds and animals. She explained to me that where she’s from there is very little wildlife anymore because there is just no room for it anymore. She said,”You take a place about the size of Montana and fill it with 83 million people. That’s Germany.” Now, I don’t know if that’s the population of Germany or not. But her point was that people have crowded out the wildlife.

H said,”You Americans just don’t know what you have. You don’t realize how lucky you are.” And she’s right. We do take a lot for granted. Her comments have stayed with me and everyday I’m thankful that I live where I do.

As of this writing, all is well with the swans. And H, if you read this, yes I do go and visit the swans and all the others at the lake. I like to think it’s the sight of me that prompts their expressions of joy but I know it’s really the grain bucket they’re happy to see.