Name: S.F.’s poisoned swan may have swallowed too many pennies in Palace of Fine Arts pond
Brand: sfchronicle.com
SKU: sfchronicle-com-125
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

S.F.’s poisoned swan may have swallowed too many pennies in Palace of Fine Arts pond

preview

Blanche, a beloved swan who nested in the Palace of Fine Arts for 25 years, returned home Tuesday after being treated for zinc and lead poisoning possibly caused by digesting pennies and soil laced with lead, San Francisco park officials said.Blanche was taken to the San Francisco Zoo in late January to receive treatment after she was observed having a difficult time standing and getting into the water, Tamara Aparton, a spokeswoman for San Francisco parks said.Blue Boy, her 17-year-old male companion, did not exhibit symptoms but was later taken to the zoo as a precautionary measure. Blue Boy was morning, but veterinarians were unsure of the cause Wednesday as they await the results of a necropsy.Officials said Blue Boy did not exhibit symptoms until he suddenly became ill the night he died. Blue Boy had been treated for lead and zinc poisoning and his levels were back down to an acceptable level.San Francisco Zoo veterinarians said they found high levels of zinc and lead in both swans’ blood. Officials believe the high levels of zinc were from swallowing pennies thrown into the pond, a common source of poisoning in birds, Aparton said. But the source of the lead poisoning was more difficult to trace.Hooray! Blanche returned home with a clean BILL of health. You can be a wildlife steward: 1. Don’t throw coins in the pond2. Don’t feed her 3. Don’t approach her when she’s on shore, it stresses her out Thank you to and Happy swimming Blanche! — San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (@RecParkSF)Officials sent multiple soil samples from the swans’ home to be tested in a lab. Although the tests revealed there was some lead in the soil, the amount found was not more than what is typical for an urban environment, Aparton said. Veterinarians believe the lead built up in the swan’s bloodstreams after a decade of living on the pond, and possibly swallowing pennies and other coins.More for youAparton said Blanche’s caretakers will ensure Blanche’s feed isn’t directly on the soil to reduce the amount of lead she digests. Veterinarians will also give her regular blood tests to ensure she stays healthy.Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Area’s largest water districts.In a social media post accompanying a video of Blanche’s return home, park officials advised visitors to not throw coins into the pond and to avoid feeding or approaching the swan.Now without her longtime companion, Aparton said the biggest question on many people’s minds is if Blanche will find love again. Mute swans generally mate for life, and Blanche and Blue Boy had been a couple for about a decade, so officials are concerned she might experience loneliness without a partner.Aparton said they are looking for a suitable companion for Blanche to spend her twilight years with.“It will likely be a lady-friend this time. Male swans tend to be really territorial and aggressive, which a few Palace of Fine Arts visitors and a whole lot of geese have found out the hard way,” she said.Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: Twitter:Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Area’s largest water districts.

Blanche, a beloved swan who nested in the Palace of Fine Arts for 25 years, returned home Tuesday after being treated for zinc and lead poisoning possibly caused by digesting pennies and soil laced with lead, San Francisco park officials said.Blanche was taken to the San Francisco Zoo in late January to receive treatment after she was observed having a difficult time standing and getting into the water, Tamara Aparton, a spokeswoman for San Francisco parks said.Blue Boy, her 17-year-old male companion, did not exhibit symptoms but was later taken to the zoo as a precautionary measure. Blue...

public

Vanessa Arredondo

Delivering the Bay Area’s best journalism every day. Subscribe and support the newsroom: http://SFChronicle.com/subscribe

S.F.’s poisoned swan may have swallowed too many pennies in Palace of Fine Arts pond

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS