Credit: @kaymarie.g12 (Kayla Garabedian ’22)
Norton Residents and Wheaton students have spent the past few weeks mourning the alleged death of the two resident swans that appear to spend their days alternating between Wheaton’s Peacock Pond and the Norton reservoir.
On Friday, Mar. 5 at 1:30 p.m. a gray pickup truck allegedly hit two swans by the reservoir near Emma’s Pub & Pizza on 130 Mansfield Ave., according to a police report from the Southeast Massachusetts Regional 911 District.
To many, this incident was not big news. Campus Security was unaware of the alleged accident. But, according to many students and Norton residents, the swans were a glimpse of happiness during isolated times.
“On March 5th, my roommate informed me that she saw them flying toward the main road. We didn’t see them for several days. On Tuesday night we were told about the car accident. We were obsessed with them and loved them a lot,” said Elsie Carson ’24.
Another user told the Wire, “Two days later I drove by one of the dead swans on the side of the road. It was gut wrenching… How does someone accidentally hit a couple of swans?”
Students have also expressed their concerns regarding the demise, saying, “I was shocked. I don’t think they should die that way,” said Emmet Anderson ’24.
When questioned, Wheaton Grounds and Campus Safety noted that they do not have any involvement regarding the caretaking of the swans, debunking theories that the swans were purposefully stationed at Peacock Pond.
The driver of the gray truck has not been identified.