Residents of California have been encouraged to take action against a troublesome water bird that has become a concern across the state.
New legislation permits Californians to hunt mute swans for a period of five years due to worries regarding this invasive bird, known for previous aggressive encounters with children.
This legislative move aims to tackle the increasing issues posed by mute swans, which the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) describes as ‘destructive.’ For more details, visit the department’s announcement.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 764 into law on October 6, and it will be implemented starting January 1, 2026.
The bill, introduced by Republican Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, is hailed as a ‘proactive, science-driven solution’ to the mute swan problem.
Gonzalez expressed to State Affairs that by managing the mute swan population responsibly, California is taking significant steps to preserve its natural beauty for future generations.
There have been 12,350 mute swans spotted in California this year, per data published by the CDFW.
In 2024, about 6,900 mute swans were estimated to be in the state.
Californians will be allowed to hunt mute swans for five years starting on January 1, 2026
California governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law earlier this month
The giant birds are largely found in the Suisun and Napa marshes.
Mute swans weigh between 25-30 pounds and are about five feet tall with near-eight foot wingspans.
Despite its name, the mute swan is not actually completely silent; rather, the bird is quieter than other swans but can still grunt, hiss or snort.
The bird can be identified from other swans because of its orange bill, S-shaped neck and long tail feathers.
Californians sometimes keep mute swans as aesthetic ‘pets’ at their homes or across city parks.
Mute swans arrived in the US from western Europe in the late 1800s and have since become an ‘invasive’ species across California and other parts of the country, including Maryland or Michigan.
They are not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The giant birds are considered ‘very territorial’ and ‘aggressive’
The bill was introduced by Republican California assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez
The birds are considered ‘very territorial’ and ‘aggressive’ towards native waterfowl and people, according to the CDFW.
There have been reports of mute swans ‘critically’ injuring children and pets.
‘They might be a pretty, big, white bird, and they may be charismatic, but they can be pretty nasty,’ Brad Bortner, retired chief of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s division of migratory bird management, said to CalMatters.
Mute swans are also destructive towards their ecosystem.
The massive animals require about eight pounds of food a day, meaning that they completely ravage their ecosystem and put other waterfowl and fish in danger.
Mute swans do not migrate, which makes getting rid of them tricky.
The legislation allowing for the birds to be hunted expires January 1, 2031.
According to California state law, English sparrows (left) and European starlings (right) can also be hunted
In August, the bill was called ‘reckless’ and ‘inhumane’ by the Friends of Animals advocacy group.
A statement said: ‘It is a desperate attempt by a dying hunting industry to add another ‘bird to the bag’ and we won’t stand by and let it happen!’
The group accused hunters of spreading misinformation about mute swans and hoping for what they called a ‘state-sanctioned killing spree.’
The statement continued: ‘Persecution persists thanks to ongoing smear campaigns that label mute swans as invasive even though they have been here since the late 19th Century.
‘When wildlife agencies like the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, which treat hunters as clients, get away with saying that mute swans are invasive, all the misconduct toward these majestic birds is justified in the eyes of the abusers.
‘It opens the door for mistreatment and lack of respect and continues to put them in harm’s way.’
According to California state law, English sparrows and European starlings can also be hunted without needing a hunting license or depredation permit.
