Iowa State's Lake LaVerne swan to retire, new pair arriving soon
Phillip Sitter
The mute swan that's paddled Iowa State University's Lake LaVerne alone since the June death of its partner will retire.
She soon will have company at a family's private pond. Meanwhile, the university prepares to welcome a new pair of birds.
"Lancelot" and "Elaine" have been the names of the swan pairs to live on Lake LaVerne since first introduced there in 1935. The most recent pair was introduced in 2003.
Both swans were female, so while it is impossible to know which bird in June died of natural causes, a university news release dubbed the survivor Elaine.
More:Iowa State University in search of a swan or two for Lake LaVerne after half of famous pair dies
Elaine will retire from the lake next week and have a new home at an acreage near Woodward owned by Iowa State alumni. The family raises swans.
Lake LaVerne will be without swans, for now. Campus planner Chris Strawhacker said in the university's release a new pair of birds will be introduced to the lake, though the timing depends on a report about management of the lake.
Strawhacker said a study conducted in the spring and summer assessed water depths, sediments, nutrient levels and lake management practices. The report will include recommendations for improving the lake's condition and management.
It's expected to be complete in the winter.
More:Otters Otis and Ollie make a home in Iowa State University's Lake LaVerne
The need to replace one or more of the swans is not new, but it's been a couple decades since the most recent pair was introduced in March 2003.
The previous two male pairs of swans on the lake were removed after being too aggressive: in 1999, after wandering into traffic on Lincoln Way; and after a July 2002 incident in which one swan charged at a lawnmower and consequently needed surgery and physical therapy for a broken leg.
Phillip Sitter covers education for the Ames Tribune, including Iowa State University and PreK-12 schools in Ames and elsewhere in Story County. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.