Killing Mute Swans? Shameful.

All over the United States, mute swans have been the victims of unnecessary killing just for doing what is natural to them – living, and eating vegetation to survive...

The beautiful mute swan, known for its graceful white body and distinctive orange/red bill, is found up and down the eastern sea board and in areas as far west as Montana and Utah. However, it is still highly disputed whether mute swans are native to the United States or if they were introduced in the 1800s.  Either way, free-ranging swans are now a naturalized, not to mention beautiful, part of our environment. There is no evidence that swans are responsible for meaningful environmental alteration. In fact, it is more likely that they are being used as a scapegoat for our political failure to deal with such environmental problems such as water pollution and toxic runoff. We must learn to live with our naturalized wildlife --native and non-native alike--and stop trying to recreate a world that can no longer exist. Brutal and unnecessary killing of mute swans is not a substitute for the humane and enlightened management that these magnificent animals deserve.

Even Slash, famous guitarist from Guns N' Roses, and Nigel Barker, world-renowned photographer, have spoken out against this unnecessary slaughter.

In a so-called management plan, drafted in 2011, but not made public until recently, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has declared war on the beautiful and majestic mute swan. Calling these beautiful, free-ranging and naturalized swans invasive and alien, Michigan will kill as many as 1500 swans a year every year for the next five years with the goal of slaughtering tens of thousands of swans over the next 18 years.

Incredibly, DNR has just taken  the horrific step of  asking private citizens to get permits and actually help to slaughter these magnificent swans