Some don’t agree with my enlightened philosophy of hunting invasive mute swans.
Annually, these birds eat up to nine million pounds of Chesapeake Bay aquatic vegetation. They also scare or kill native terns, mallards and Canada geese. A year-round unprotected status/open season with no daily or possession limit would save state money, provide hunting recreation and help the bay.
In a recent December 2006 victory, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Maryland has the authority to manage mute swans. Killing these pests would manage them.
Others disagree with my sensible solution. “Absolutely” was Dr. John Grandy’s comment when asked if he disagreed with my sensible mute swan plan. He?s the seniorvice president of the Humane Society of the United States.
“They are a beautiful fixture of the Chesapeake Bay,” Grandy said. “People of Maryland deserve their beauty.”
But people of Maryland don’t deserve these large, feral, feathered pests destroying native habitat.
“Once again, hunters are showing an overzealous desire to kill that is downright scary,” said Erin Edwards, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals media liaison.
“The swans are being forced to bear the blame for a human mistake,” she said, noting that humans brought mute swans here. “… We have a responsibility to find a humane solution, such as egg addling.”
Of course, we also introduced zebra mussels, starlings, English house sparrows, phragmites, nutria, purple loosestrife and a host of other undesirable invasives that we now don’t want.
The Department of Natural Resources is currently addling eggs (shaking eggs to destroy the embryo), oiling eggs (to smother them) and shooting swans, according to Jonathan McKnight, an invasive wildlife specialist and DNR assistant wildlife director. A public hunting program could save the financially strapped DNR personnel funds, provide sport and aid removing these noxious pests.
And do it quickly. Addling or oiling eggs requires a long-term annual commitment. The birds live 25 to 30 years.
“I think that the idea of hunting them incidentally is sound,” admitted McKnight, adding that we do not have enough birds to support a major hunting industry. He estimates the current population at under 1,500.
Hunting groups agree. “We would have no problem with a hunting season on mute swans,” said Wendy Donahoo, president of the Maryland Sportsmen’s Association, a conglomerate of individual hunters and hunting clubs. Ducks Unlimited concurs, according to press contact Gregg Patterson. DU filed in the DC Court to push for Maryland mute swan management.
Another suggestion from Baltimore sportsman Chuck Edghill is to donate these big birds (7-foot wing span, standing to 4 feet tall, 25 pounds) to food banks and homeless shelters. Remember, they taste like geese.
But that idea does not change the thinking of PETA, the Humane Society and others of similar philosophy.
In fact, I think I?m off the Christmas card lists of both PETA and the Humane Society. Oh that’s right ? I never was on those lists ? although now I might be on another one.
You can reach C. Boyd Pfeiffer at [email protected].
