[Maine-birds] New York aims to eliminate Mute Swans

New York state has an explosive population of Mute Swans. They are as damaging as Starlings and House Sparrows to the waterfowl population. They will take over a pond and drive all other waterfowl away. Maine should take note and not allow Mute Swans to reproduce here.

The following is from the NY press release.

New York DEC Releases Draft Management Plan to Guide Management of Mute Swans for the Next Ten Years

Link to pdf of plan: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/muteswanmgmtpln2013.pdf

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released draft species management plans for black bears and mute swans, and will be accepting public comments on these management plans through January 31, 2014.

Mute Swans

The draft Management Plan for Mute Swans in New York State is available on the DEC website. The mute swan is a non-native, invasive species brought to North America from Eurasia for ornamental purposes in the late 1800s.

Mute swans are most numerous on Long Island and in the lower Hudson Valley, but have expanded their range in recent years, especially around Lake Ontario. Mute swans can cause a variety of problems, including exhibiting aggressive behavior towards people, destruction of submerged aquatic vegetation, displacement of native wildlife species, degradation of water quality and potential hazards to aviation.

This draft management plan supports actions by DEC to eliminate free-ranging mute swans from New York by 2025, while allowing responsible ownership of these birds in captivity. DEC recently proposed listing mute swan as a "prohibited species" under new Invasive Species regulations, which would prohibit the sale, importation, transport, or introduction of this species in New York.

Comments on the draft mute swan plan may be submitted in writing through January 31, 2014 to: NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife, Swan Management Plan, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or by e-mail to fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (please type "Swan Plan" in the subject line).

--   Stan DeOrsey  jsmd@att.net