Yes, this is unfortunately, the way that a lot of state laws are going. The reason behind this is that some purists believe that if a species is not native, it poses a problem to native species. Part of the problem is unscrupulous owners who do not take care of the birds, do not pinion them or do not plan for their cygnets and future progeny.

With this disregard for care of swans or other species, laws banning anything that is not born or bred in a specific area, state or country are passed. The only way to reverse the law is to petition the respective state or local government, introduce fines and/or jail terms for people who do not properly care for the birds or do not have permits.

The problem with the purist thinking is that eventually the native species that one is protecting from invasive species or other potential problems will also become so overpopulated that state laws will then allow them to be culled.

A prime example is that of the alligator. The alligator was nearly wiped out of the state of Florida back in the 60's with approximately 200 of the reptiles left. Laws came about to place them on the Protected and Endangered Species list to fine/jail poachers, prevent ownership, etc. Recently, the state has removed the alligators from the Endangered Species list because there are now approximately 2 1/2 million in the state.

However, the state cannot remove them from the Protected Species list because poaching will again take place and we will once again lose the animal. So, we are now overrun with the animals, there are no known predators except larger alligators and man. The state's answer is to allow culling of the animals by issuing permits so that someone can hunt the alligator after entering a state lottery for hunting, go out with a state trapper and the animal is culled.

The alligator is not the only native species that protection has fostered to the point that culling is being used or considered. In some cases, species are coming off the Endangered List, going to the Protected List and people are trying to petition states to consider control methods, i.e., The Bald Eagle.

In some states, the Bald Eagle has made such a great comeback that it is competing with other native birds and animals and fishermen who find the birds aggressive, and a general nuisance.

So, our point is that there is nothing wrong with protecting species from the brink of extinction, but at what cost and what length do humans go about protecting a species at the expense of other species only to turn around and have to cull (kill) the species that was under protection at the beginning? Doesn't make much sense, but until someone starts asking these questions, protective purist laws will continually be enacted and culling will be the eventual answer. The Regal Swan