RANGERS at a nature reserve in Bournemouth have urged dog owners to keep their pets under control after a cygnet was attacked by a dog last week.

A young swan had to be euthanised in the car park at Kingfisher Barn at the Stour Valley Nature Reserve on Tuesday October 12 following the attack.

The police and the RSPCA were both notified of the incidents, and officers say enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said: “We received a report on Friday October 15 in relation to a dog attack on a swan at the Stour Valley Nature Reserve.

“It was reported that the incident had occurred at around 3pm on Tuesday October 12.

“It was further reported that a local wildlife charity had assisted with treating the bird, and the RSPCA had been notified. Sadly, it was later confirmed that the bird could not be saved.”

In light of the incident, Stour Valley Rangers say they are to review the current dog’s policy across the nature reserves.

In a statement uploaded to their social media accounts, Stour Valley Rangers said: “Having been so badly attacked by a dog at Stour Valley Local Nature Reserve, one of our lovely cygnets had to be euthanized in the car park at Kingfisher Barn.

“Please keep dogs under control around our precious wildlife.

“We will be reviewing the dog’s policy across our nature reserves shortly and these types of issues don’t add support for dogs to continue to be able to disturb, harass and kill wildlife.

“It’s not practically possible to be at every incident to physically prevent this type of thing from happening and things are needing to change to prevent this continued irresponsible behaviour.

“We have clear images of the persons who we believe are responsible, we also have a picture of the dog on a trail camera, and we will be following this up today with the police.”