Rye Responders Rescue Swan Trapped in Frozen Pond

Police and firefighters worked together to free the mute swan and transfer it to a wildlife rescue facility.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Rye city police and firefighters successfully rescued a mute swan that had become stuck in a frozen pond. Video footage shows an emergency responder walking onto the ice, pulling the swan free, and carrying it to safety on land, where it was then transferred to a local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility.

Why it matters

Rescues of wildlife trapped in dangerous winter conditions are important to protect the animals and prevent further injury or loss of life. This incident highlights the coordination and quick action of local emergency responders to save the swan.

The details

According to a police news release, Rye city police and firefighters worked together to free the mute swan that had become stuck in the frozen pond. Video shows an emergency responder walking out onto the ice, carefully pulling the swan free, and then carrying it to other responders waiting on the shore.

  • The rescue occurred on February 17, 2026.

The players

Rye City Police

The local police department that responded to the call and assisted in the swan rescue.

Rye City Firefighters

The local fire department that worked alongside the police to free the swan from the frozen pond.

Animal Nation

A non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility that received the swan after it was freed from the ice.

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What’s next

The rescued swan was transferred to the Animal Nation wildlife rescue facility for evaluation and rehabilitation.

The takeaway

This incident demonstrates the important role that first responders play in protecting local wildlife, even in dangerous winter conditions. The coordinated efforts of the Rye police and fire departments helped save the swan from a potentially life-threatening situation.