By Luis Perez, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, September 16, 2010
PALM HARBOR — Pinellas County sheriff's deputies are investigating whether someone stole two black Australian swans from an RV park in Palm Harbor.
Jennifer Wallis, manager of Sherwood Forest Recreational Vehicle Park, 175 Alt. 19, told deputies Thursday afternoon that two of four black swans in a pond on the RV park property were missing. The lake is fenced and the swans' wings are clipped.
Wallis said that Kathy Jenkins, 57, who cares for the swans, saw all four of the creatures in the pond Tuesday, three Wednesday and two Thursday. The missing swans are sisters named Precious and Survivor.
It's not the first time that waterfowl have disappeared from area lakes.
Last week, two resident swans at the Lake Highlander Mobile Home Park in Dunedin disappeared, then were returned.
Last summer, a trapper took three geese from St. Petersburg's Crescent Lake. He brought back the animals after pleas from neighbors. Also in 2009, the same trapper reportedly took geese or ducks from lakes in Tampa and Riverview.
Anyone with information about the Palm Harbor case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (727) 582-6200.