OAK PARK (WWJ) -- It's a happy ending for a wandering waterfowl that caused some traffic trouble during the Monday morning commute in Metro Detroit.
Michigan State Police shared some photos of the trumpeter swan, after it was rescued from the shoulder of I-696.
Shortly before 9 a.m., the swan was in the left lane of the westbound freeway in Oakland County, causing commuters to slam on their breaks to avoid the big, white bird.
Some drivers put their hazard lights on, one WWJ traffic tipster reported, while the swam itself didn't seem too bothered... flapping its winds a bit, and waddling in and out of traffic.
While on patrol a little later, a Metro North trooper in a "blue goose" observed the swan as it was standing on the shoulder.
"For some reason 696 and that straightway between Greenfield and almost Orchard Lake seems to be some type of bird sanctuary," joked MSP 1st Lt. Mike Shaw, who shared the story with WWJ's Roberta Jasina. "We've rescued ducks, others animals that have made it onto the freeway. This morning was a swan."
"One of the troopers happened to have a green bag in the backseat, like one of those old mail bags for some reason, kind of approached the swan. The swan was a little reluctant at first."
Shaw said the trooper succeeded it getting the swan into the bag, and he brought it to the police post.
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"We were able to contact a swan rescue, because we're getting pretty used to finding these animals out there," Shaw said. "And that swan rescue is going to come by the post and pick up the swan."
That is, Shaw said, after troopers and the bird posed for some pictures.
No injuries, to the swan or otherwise, were reported.