Manito Park swan recovering after attack

Philip, one of three surviving swans at Manito Park, was recovering Friday at a Spokane Valley veterinary clinic from a severe head wound that staffers said nearly claimed the graceful bird’s life.

“He’s made a lot of progress in a week’s time,” said Dr. Jerry Ponti, who specializes in treatment of wild and exotic animals.

Parks officials said Philip was discovered injured last Saturday after being struck in the head by a stick or other object.

“Why don’t people just leave them alone?” said a troubled Taylor Bressler, manager of city park maintenance.

He was taken Saturday to Ponti’s clinic in the Otis Orchards area and given medication to reduce apparent swelling inside his head. Initially, the bird was unable to stand or hold his head up. He was undergoing therapy twice a day in a small bathing tub at the clinic.

“The buoyancy of the water is really working for him,” said Marilyn Omlor, a veterinarian technician who works with wild animals.

Late Friday, Philip didn’t appear threatened by dogs that were caged and barking next to him. He was resting on the floor of his cage under a blanket. He was well enough to nibble on romaine lettuce and corn.

“I don’t think he has any permanent damage,” Ponti said, but the bird was still having difficulty standing and moving his head. Ponti said full functioning should return as the internal swelling subsides.

Philip was one of two mute swans donated to the parks department in 1985. Philip was named after his donor, former Park Board member Philip Alexander, who died in 1996. In 1989, when a baby swan was slain, Alexander offered a $1,000 reward for capture of the killer.

Philip’s mate, Helen, was killed in an attack in 2001. Helen was named after Alexander’s wife, Helen Alexander, who died last fall.

Helen and Philip, the swans, produced three offspring in 2001.

One of the offspring was killed last year in an apparent attack by a driver, who crossed a travel lane to strike the bird with a vehicle, Bressler said. The incident was previously not reported by parks officials. Bressler did not explain why the incident went unreported to the public.

In another incident, one of the three offspring was nabbed in an apparent prank in 2002 and taken to the Spokane River. It was found later swimming near Spokane Community College.

Mute swans are native to Europe and Asia and were brought to North America more than a century ago.

Bressler said he is tiring of seeing the large, beautiful birds attacked and harassed. He said that unlike ducks and geese, they are unafraid of humans.

“Basically, people should just leave them alone,” he said.