Frequently Asked Questions about the Killing of Delaware’s Mute Swans
Last edited on March 28, 2011 by the Delaware Save our Swans Committee
1. What are Mute Swans?
Mute Swans are a species of white swan (Cygnus olor) with a distinctive red bill. These spectacular birds can reach up to five feet tall and can weigh up to 30 pounds. Pairs of swans tend nests of 5-8 eggs in the spring. The baby swans or cygnets hatch within 38 days and stay with their parents for about a year. In the wild, pairs tend to mate for life, and individuals may live for nearly 20 years.
2. Where are Mute Swans found?
Mute Swans reside primarily in estuarine environments with smaller numbers on inland lakes and ponds. Mute Swans can be found up and down the eastern seaboard and as far west as Montana and Utah.
There is conflicting evidence about whether Mute Swans are native to the North American continent or were
introduced into the United States in the 1800s for aesthetic enjoyment. (Some scientists believe that Mute Swans have always been in North America at low population levels and that their populations have been enhanced during the last century by release of swans originally imported from Europe.) Regardless, they are now a naturalized part of the environment in much of the eastern U.S. and provide grace and beauty to the environment.
3. How many Mute Swans are in Delaware and are they a threat to Delaware’s Inland Bays and ponds?
There are only an estimated forty (40) Mute Swans living in Delaware and they are certainly not a threat to the environment of Delaware’s Inland Bays and ponds. The integrity of these bays and waterside environments is at risk from septic drainage, siltation, powerboats and destructive waterside development, but it is scientifically inaccurate to assert that these widely distributed and beautiful swans are an environmental threat.
4. Why did personnel from the Delaware Department of Fish and Wildlife recently shotgun 2 Mute Swans; what happened and what has been the local reaction?
No one knows why. The Delaware Department of Fish and Wildlife has never issued an explanation for the killing of the swans or why concerned citizens were not contacted.
According to local residents, on or about January 10, 2011, personnel of the Delaware Department of Fish and Wildlife came to White’s Creek near Millville, Delaware, and shot two resident Mute Swans. There was no public notice and no attempt to involve local citizens who were clearly and appropriately upset when they discovered what had happened. The general public in Delaware was understandably outraged as well. Subsequently, numerous articles appeared in the local paper: (Coastal Point article "Swan supporters get backing from big guns"; Coastal Point article "White's Creek residents outraged over swans' slayings"; Coastal Point letter to the editor from the Delaware SOS coalition; Coastal Point article "Swan supporters aim to change state policy" ) and local citizens formed a Delaware Save our Swans (SOS) committee. Local Delaware elected officials, State Representatives Gerald Hocker and Melanie George, have been supporting the swans and citizen efforts, as has The Humane Society of the United States.
5. Why is The Humane Society of the United States involved and why does The HSUS oppose the destruction of these Mute Swans?
Citizen activists appealed to The HSUS for help because The HSUS opposes the inhumane death, suffering and callous destruction of Mute Swans. In addition to the cruel disregard for the lives of these swans, their destruction unjustifiably and cavalierly eliminates a beautiful element of the Inland Bays ecosystem.
6. What has the Department of Fish and Wildlife done in response to the public outrage over the killing of the Mute Swans?
The public furor over the killing of the two Mute Swans erupted just as David Saveikis became the new Director of Delaware Fish and Wildlife. When faced with an outraged public and local legislative concern, Director Saveikis declared an immediate temporary moratorium on the killing of Mute Swans in Delaware. However, the moratorium is only temporary. During the moratorium, the Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting a policy review and meeting with concerned local citizens over the future of their Mute Swans. We need your help to ask the Governor to direct the Fish and Wildlife Director to make the moratorium permanent. (See 9, below).
7. What are local citizens and The HSUS proposing as a way forward with respect to protecting and enhancing the remaining mute swans?
The Humane Society of the United States is working together with local citizens organized as the Delaware Save our Swans (SOS) committee. The HSUS, in consultation with SOS, sent a letter to Director Saveikis, endorsing a continuation of the moratorium on killing swans through a two part process, as follows:
1.) Declaring a permanent moratorium on the killing or lethal control of Mute Swans in Delaware. The
moratorium would prohibit general lethal control or killing of these animals, and require that non-lethal
measures be used in cases where problems are reported that are serious enough to warrrant intervention.
2.) Designation of a citizen advisory group to provide recommendations to Delaware Fish and Wildlife
concerning analysis of reported conficts; and to provide recommendations concerning non-lethal control
procedures and actions to be followed if actionable complaints regarding Mute Swans are received, and to
provide advice on the most humane control procedures and techniques.
8. Are local citizens and The Humane Society of the United States prepared to work with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to solve any significant problems that may exist involving Mute Swans?
Local citizens through the Delaware Save our Swans committee and The HSUS are eager to work with the state of Delaware to help perpetuate Mute Swans in Delaware and to resolve any perceived conflicts between Mute Swans and people, using non-lethal and humane techniques. The HSUS has significant experience in implementing non- lethal wildlife conflict resolution techniques and has participated actively in non-lethal management of Canada goose populations in urban areas across the nation. We also direct the first nationally recognized commercial operation, Humane Wildlife Services, to help solve wildlife problems in urban areas. Local citizens are on site and caring participants who want only what is best for the swans and the community and the local environment. They are willing to use their personal resources and expertise to help alleviate local problems and to work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
9. What can the public do to help get proper compassionate management of Mute Swans?
PLEASE WRITE, EMAIL OR CALL DELAWARE GOVERNOR MARKELL
Right now the most important thing that can happen is for Delaware officials to hear from concerned citizens. Here is a link to a take action page from The Humane Society of the United States.
Also you may want to go to savemuteswans.org and click through to sign the Delaware petition. These signatures will be helpful in our meeting with Delaware officials, and hopefully will stimulate action from the Governor.
Or you may e-mail Kathryn Kullberg at The HSUS; she has agreed to see that your request goes to the proper person.
But, THANK YOU, most of all for your concern and help.
Sincerely,
Delaware Save our Swans Committee