The swan could stay forever as long as it finds a suitable habitat for nesting, feeding and living as long as it is free from predators.

The major issue is that the Ohio DNR does not come onto your pond and kill the swan. Ohio and other state and federal wildlife officials are killing the Mute Swans to open the habitat so they can introduce the larger Trumpeter Swans for Trophy Waterfowl hunting purposes.

They are accomplishing this killing program by falsely misrepresenting the Mute Swans to the public, politicians, and media as non-native, invasive, detrimental to other waterfowl and the habitat. There could be nothing further from the truth.

We presented actual science to the NY State Senate and Assembly for the past 3 years. This past year, the Senate, Assembly and Governor signed legislation to stop the killings until the NY DEC could provide valid reliable scientific research to show how the swans were being detrimental. They are going to have a hard time producing such evidence, because current reliable research shows that the Mute Swans are actually a Sentinel species alerting to the presence of high levels of heavy metals and harmful microorganisms.

Furthermore, Mute Swans actually increase the biodiversity of the habitat and other waterfowl species. So, hopefully, you will be able to continue enjoying the swan with no interference with your state wildlife officials. The Regal Swan