W
ith ith their their long, long, regal regal necks necks and and white white plumage, plumage, mute mute swans swans are are the the epitome of grace and beauty on Michigan waterways. However, epitome of grace and beauty on Michigan waterways. However, the the birds’ birds’ beauty beauty cloaks cloaks an an aggressive aggressive and and territorial territorial nature nature that that Michigan Michigan Department Department of of Natural Natural Resources Resources (DNR) (DNR) experts experts say say poses poses aa threat threat to to native waterfowl and their ecological environment. That’s prompted native waterfowl and their ecological environment. That’s prompted changes changes in in the the way way the the state state manages manages the the mute mute swan swan population. population. The major change is a wildlife conservation order amendment The major change is a wildlife conservation order amendment prohibiting prohibiting the the release release of of mute mute swans swans back back into into the the wild wild after after being being removed removed from from the the environment. This measure was passed by the state’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in a 3-2 vote on Feb. 10 and took effect the following day.
ONG? BY ANGELA NIEMI
NRC CLEARS WAY FOR ‘REMOVAL’ OF BIRDS WHILE ACTIVISTS CRY ‘FOWL’