They had to act fast.
Drivers traveling along Southern State Parkway on Long Island, New York, recently witnessed a frightening sight: three large birds wandering directly into the middle of the busy highway.
Knowing how dangerous the situation was, several motorists called 911, bringing police officers and local animal rescuers John Debacker and Karenlynn Stracher rushing to the scene.
Debacker and Stracher are well known in the area for their dedication to helping animals in danger. Debacker, who specializes in rescuing cats, has carried out numerous dramatic highway rescues this year alone, including saving a tiny black kitten stranded on a median and another cat trapped on an overpass.
But this time, the animals in need of help were much bigger.
The stranded birds were a family of swans: two adults and their young cygnet, who was still too little to fly away from danger.
With traffic stopped, police officers carefully guided the swans toward a grassy area on the side of the road. Although the family was no longer directly in the path of passing cars, they were still a considerable distance from safety. Their home pond was only about 50 feet away, but reaching it meant navigating the dangerous roadside.
At first, the rescuers hoped the swans would find their own way back to the water. They patiently allowed the birds to lead while stepping in whenever they began heading toward the highway again.
Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the swan family needed more help.
Debacker and Stracher decided to take matters into their own hands. Working carefully, they cornered each swan and secured the birds one by one before moving them to a vehicle.
It was a delicate operation, but the rescuers were grateful that the police officers cooperated throughout the rescue, following their guidance and helping keep everyone safe.
“It was great teamwork and coordination,” Debacker told The Dodo.
Once all three swans were safely inside the vehicle, the rescuers drove them back to their pond. When they arrived, they opened the doors and gave the family the chance to return to the place where they belonged.
At last, the swans were home.
What began as a terrifying journey into the middle of a busy highway ended with the entire family safely back in their natural habitat, thanks to the quick-thinking drivers, the police officers who responded and two experienced animal rescuers who refused to leave them behind.
For the young cygnet, who was still too small to fly out of danger, that teamwork made all the difference.