Cygnet killed by discarding fishing line in Dorchester

Lesley Martin, who lives near the River Frome in Dorchester, found the cygnet in the Mill Stream, near Caters Place, on Sunday evening and discovered it had ingested a discarded fish hook and tackle. 

She alerted wildlife rescuer Derek Davey who tried to rescue the cygnet but unfortunately it died of its injuries. 

Derek Davey with the cygnet which died after ingesting discarded fishing line and a fish hook (Image: Derek Davey) Mrs Martin has been left "sad and devastated" by the incident and wants to make fishermen aware of the tragic consequences of discarding their equipment. 

She said: "We’ve had a family of seven cygnets with their parents living on the bank in Mill Stream.

"I saw one of the cygnets in deep distress, drowning. It was covered in fishing tackle with a hook down its throat.

"It's so sad to see a beautiful cygnet dead in the water, because people have inconsiderately left stuff in the river.

"We’ve got to make people aware that people can’t just discard their equipment in the river as it’s a risk to wildlife."

Having lived in Dorchester for 40 years, Mrs Martin says the area has always been hazardous for birds.

Family of seven cygnets by the Mill Stream in Dorchester (Image: Lesley Martin) This year has seen a sharp increase in youth attacks on birdlife in the area including a shocking catapult attack on a duck.

READ MORE: Duck attacked with catapult at River Walks in Dorchester

Now Mrs Martin wishes to highlight how discarded fishing litter poses another major risk for swans and cygnets.

She added: "It's just awful - everybody should know about this.

"We've got to make people aware that you can't fish here and leave your equipment for swans to suffer and get killed."

Derek Davey managed to pull the cygnet free but it died from its injuries (Image: Derek Davey) Derek Davey has been rescuing birds for more than 25 years and in the last month has seen two other incidents of birds being caught on discarded hooks or fishing line. 

He described the situation as "out of control" and called for a ban on fishing in that part of the river.

He said: "It's ongoing around there and it's just ridiculous.

"It's mostly young fishermen and they just don't care. We've tried to talk to them and we just get abuse. 

"Hooks are being left on the sidewalks and children play around there. It's just not safe. 

“There needs to be a ban on fishing near that river walk or it will never stop."