Jun 9, 2009 5:30 pm US/Eastern
Killing Of Mute Swans In Md. Causes Controversy
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Wildlife officials in Maryland consider the mute swan a menace to the Chesapeake Bay's delicate ecosystem.
CBS
Wildlife officials in Maryland consider the mute swan a menace to the Chesapeake Bay's delicate ecosystem. Animal welfare groups tell
Suzanne Collins they believe the continued killing of those birds by the state is unnecessary and inhumane.
Natural resources officers have been eradicating this invasive orange-beaked swan for over a decade because the mute swan eats huge amounts of aquatic grasses, which the bay needs to survive. After a review of the controversial policy, the state has decided to continue killing the swans even though there are less than 500 left.
"There can be no justification for killing these gorgeous and beautiful animals if they aren't causing any impact," said John Grady, with the US Humane Society.
A Humane Society biologist says such a low number of swans would cause negligible damage, but the State Natural Resources secretary disagrees.
"If we leave them at 500, they could rebuild and we'll be, at some point, right back where we were a decade ago, which doesn't make much sense," said John Griffin.
Grady is one of two animal welfare advocates voting against the majority on a panel recommending the mute swan be entirely eliminated in Maryland. Eggs will continue to be treated and the birds shot, but sometimes the birds are also killed by having their necks broken.
Environmental groups are in favor of the continued eradication of mute swans because of the ecosystem but also some ornithological groups say these bigger birds are driving native species out of their habitat.
"These are very aggressive birds that destroy the young, destroy the habitat for a lot of native bird species," Griffin said.
The state says it follows humane guidelines in killing the swans, set up by the American Veterinary Society.
The state says it will be hard to eliminate the remaining swans because some are on private property and owners refuse entry.
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