Mute Swans

[sewwhat1975]

Ok, I saw that someone mentioned this thread.

So what do we all have to say about them?

Keep or Kill?

I know if my child was attacked I might have to kill it for protection.

[armyda]

Ok, I saw that someone mentioned this thread.

So what do we all have to say about them?

Keep or Kill?

I know if my child was attacked I might have to kill it for protection.

Deport them: They are after all, illegal aliens :trytofly:

[HoosierHelen]

What is this thread about?

I'm an older female - I have an overwhelming urge to go "Jackie Gleason" on all of you on this thread!

What they heck is a mute Swan?

[armyda]

A mute Swan is a alien species of Swan that now resides in the Great Lakes area.

From Indiana DNR: "Mute Swans Damage Native Ecosystems.
Mute swans require eight pounds of aquatic plants for food every day, and destroy much more while feeding. These plants would normally be available for native waterfowl, such as migrating ducks, and other wildlife. They destroy both underwater plants and plants at the water’s edge, so they affect both food supplies and cover for native species.

Mute Swans Are Aggressive.
Mute swans are known to attack other animals, including ducks, geese and other birds. During the nesting season, they will also come out of the water onto land to drive off people or pets that enter their territories. They can be dangerous to the elderly or children."

To make it simple, they are the same as Zebra mussels, Emerald Ash borers, Gypsy Moths, etc.

[HoosierHelen]

A mute Swan is a alien species of Swan that now resides in the Great Lakes area.

From Indiana DNR: "Mute Swans Damage Native Ecosystems.
Mute swans require eight pounds of aquatic plants for food every day, and destroy much more while feeding. These plants would normally be available for native waterfowl, such as migrating ducks, and other wildlife. They destroy both underwater plants and plants at the water’s edge, so they affect both food supplies and cover for native species.

Mute Swans Are Aggressive.
Mute swans are known to attack other animals, including ducks, geese and other birds. During the nesting season, they will also come out of the water onto land to drive off people or pets that enter their territories. They can be dangerous to the elderly or children."

To make it simple, they are the same as Zebra mussels, Emerald Ash borers, Gypsy Moths, etc.


Thank you Army,

I assumed it was some sort of local jargon of young people. I had no idea.
At my age, I continue to try to stay up on these things - many obviously get past me. Thank goodness for the internet.

Your explanatioin is appreciated.

Helen

[HoosierHelen]

BTW I withdraw the Jackie Gleason reference on talking about Mute Swans. LOL!

[sewwhat1975]

Wow, lots more than I knew about them.

[denali]

A mute Swan is a alien species of Swan that now resides in the Great Lakes area.

From Indiana DNR: "Mute Swans Damage Native Ecosystems.
Mute swans require eight pounds of aquatic plants for food every day, and destroy much more while feeding. These plants would normally be available for native waterfowl, such as migrating ducks, and other wildlife. They destroy both underwater plants and plants at the water’s edge, so they affect both food supplies and cover for native species.

Mute Swans Are Aggressive.
Mute swans are known to attack other animals, including ducks, geese and other birds. During the nesting season, they will also come out of the water onto land to drive off people or pets that enter their territories. They can be dangerous to the elderly or children."

To make it simple, they are the same as Zebra mussels, Emerald Ash borers, Gypsy Moths, etc.

Indiana DNR has done no studies to back up those claims, I guess I better say as of last year they have done no studies.

There have been studies that the Mute Swan is not an illegal alien as many report.

Mute Swans, when left alone will not attack. They want to protect their young and their mate as any other animal or person would do.

There is a whole story that goes with this and if anyone is interested I would be happy to tell the whole story as it is long.

The most important part is that Mute Swans are harrassed by wave runners and boats and that is why they have become aggressive.

There is a way to live in harmony with them, don't harrass them and stay away from their nesting areas. It is not a hard thing to do, they nest in grassy remote areas. When swans are out swimming steer clear. Not a hard thing to do and it is called respect.

We must treat each other with respect and that is all the Mute Swan wants.

Sorry that I go off on this but I am very familiar with this story and the swans have gotten a bad rap.

[sewwhat1975]

Thats great I will read if you will post the info.
I understand its an ongoing problem not just a one time thing with one person being "attacked".
I say it that way because I dont know that they didnt provoke the animals.

Im sure it has happened and Im sure that there are also others that didnt have a clue why they were being so aggressive.

[blue adept]

Indiana DNR has done no studies to back up those claims, I guess I better say as of last year they have done no studies.

There have been studies that the Mute Swan is not an illegal alien as many report.

.

mute swans are not native to this part of Indiana, show me these studies you are talking about.

[sewwhat1975]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan

The descendants of such birds have become naturalised in the eastern United States and Great Lakes, much as the Canada Goose has done in Europe. The total number of Mute Swans in North America has never gone beyond 16,000 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife letter to Federal register 2004), but they have been classified as pests in some areas due to potential competition with native species.

heres another interesting link

http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/mute_swan_3.pdf

[blue adept]

Both of these articles agree with what I said. While I am not against any bird, these are not native.

[bigbass]

They taste like chicken.

At least that's what I heard.

[denali]

Both of these articles agree with what I said. While I am not against any bird, these are not native.

An attorney on the East Coast has done studies that show infomation to the contrary.

Indiana DNR's biologist have not done studies to back up their claims about how much the Mute Swans eat as of a year or so again. Kyle Hupfer, DNR, at the time admitted that to me on a talk show.

When I have time, I will pull out all of my paperwork on this subject and get some answers to you.

Sorry for the delay.

[blue adept]

An attorney on the East Coast has done studies that show infomation to the contrary.

Indiana DNR's biologist have not done studies to back up their claims about how much the Mute Swans eat as of a year or so again. Kyle Hupfer, DNR, at the time admitted that to me on a talk show.

When I have time, I will pull out all of my paperwork on this subject and get some answers to you.

Sorry for the delay.

I am talking about the fact that fossil evidence shows that these birds were never in this area. I am not concerned personally about mute swans, but evidence is the only thing we have to go on. That being said, I do not believe any wild animal should be abused by humans for any reason. The real question is, will our native birds suffer. This I have seen first hand. My Wife, before she went to work as a Health official, worked for the DNR. I have seen the destruction these large birds do to native nests and habitat. We need to ask our selves, do we want things not to change, and how badly.

[matt_s]

I am talking about the fact that fossil evidence shows that these birds were never in this area. I am not concerned personally about mute swans, but evidence is the only thing we have to go on. That being said, I do not believe any wild animal should be abused by humans for any reason. The real question is, will our native birds suffer. This I have seen first hand. My Wife, before she went to work as a Health official, worked for the DNR. I have seen the destruction these large birds do to native nests and habitat. We need to ask our selves, do we want things not to change, and how badly.
I'm not really up on what is going on here and I also don't have a particularly long history in this area. While some are saying that these swans are not native to this area, how did they come to be here. Natural migration? Imported by people...

[evilkumquat]

While some are saying that these swans are not native to this area, how did they come to be here. Natural migration? Imported by people...

They probably came here looking for better jobs.

[matt_s]

They probably came here looking for better jobs.

:rimshot:

I didn't realize that the DNR was recruitng for clay pigeon positions.

[evilkumquat]

:rimshot:

I didn't realize that the DNR was recruitng for clay pigeon positions.

Do you REALLY want to risk drawing a pETA protest with that sort of talk?

I mean, all those clueless 20-something women, hanging around outside the KPC offices, protesting naked in cages... wearing body paint... uh...

Hmm.

Yeah, I think they should hook the swans to electrodes first, then shoot 'em! And make coats out of their fur or feathers or whatever they have and... and... and test cosmetics on them, too!

[james_t]

They probably came here looking for better jobs.

If Steuben ever gets a casino they could call it the "Mute Swan Casino."

[blue adept]

I'm not really up on what is going on here and I also don't have a particularly long history in this area. While some are saying that these swans are not native to this area, how did they come to be here. Natural migration? Imported by people...

While I have sat and listened to my wife's colleague's talk about the issue, I am not totally sure there is one answer. Some were brought in to people's lake side farms as pretty yard birds, much the peacocks are. You can find them at swap meets as cygnets [babies] for sale along with other exotics. There is also the possibility that encroachment on their natural territory{ upper p of Michigan] has driven them here much like seagulls can now be found in K-ville. The real problem is, our environment is changing and we have done the changing, whether it is the release of killer bees, asian beetles, earwigs, gypsy moths, or purple loosestrife. These were all released at the hands of man, and are going to change our environment whether we like it or not.

[blue adept]

Do you REALLY want to risk drawing a pETA protest with that sort of talk?

I mean, all those clueless 20-something women, hanging around outside the KPC offices, protesting naked in cages... wearing body paint... uh...

Hmm.

Yeah, I think they should hook the swans to electrodes first, then shoot 'em! And make coats out of their fur or feathers or whatever they have and... and... and test cosmetics on them, too!

Look out Jay Leno!

[matt_s]

Do you REALLY want to risk drawing a pETA protest with that sort of talk?

I mean, all those clueless 20-something women, hanging around outside the KPC offices, protesting naked in cages... wearing body paint... uh...

Hmm.

Yeah, I think they should hook the swans to electrodes first, then shoot 'em! And make coats out of their fur or feathers or whatever they have and... and... and test cosmetics on them, too!

Man, I guess I choose the wrong time to no longer work for KPC. Just make sure Mike repositions the webcam.

Of course you'd also see an increase in criminal activity in Steuben Co. as more people were looking for an excuse to get dragged into the county courthouse as well.

Then there would be the issue of traffic around the circle...

[armyda]

Man, I guess I choose the wrong time to no longer work for KPC. Just make sure Mike repositions the webcam.

Of course you'd also see an increase in criminal activity in Steuben Co. as more people were looking for an excuse to get dragged into the county courthouse as well.

Then there would be the issue of traffic around the circle...

It would keep the trucker's from driving through Angola. They'd all be wanting to stop and visit.

[evilkumquat]

It would keep the trucker's from driving through Angola. They'd all be wanting to stop and visit.

You think they'd notice naked women barreling 50 mph around the circle?

[james_t]

You think they'd notice naked women barreling 50 mph around the circle?

You'd probably experience what they call a "gaper's delay" on the Chicago radio stations.

[matt_s]

You think they'd notice naked women barreling 50 mph around the circle?
I think they'd notice more if the women were going 20, but even at that speed...

Oh wait, you meant the truckers.

[TheBigB]

You think they'd notice naked women barreling 50 mph around the circle?

They'd probably run over them, like they did to that poor city worker years ago.

Was it that long ago that you'd only see Canadian geese during their migration, and a swan was a novelty? I'm not that old. Of course, back then you'd never see jet skis, either (save for a few crazy snowmobilers gunning it on open water).

[blue adept]

They'd probably run over them, like they did to that poor city worker years ago.

Was it that long ago that you'd only see Canadian geese during their migration, and a swan was a novelty? I'm not that old. Of course, back then you'd never see jet skis, either (save for a few crazy snowmobilers gunning it on open water).

I remember not seeing any waterfowl in Indiana unless you went to the zoo. Crazy snowmobiler's have always been around.