Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: Swans in wheat field, a lot of coyotes present
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 20 January 2018

Hi Donna

More than likely, the swans were caught in the severe cold front with high winds, sleet, snow and ice and found the wheat field as a safe stopover with some vegetation (food), as they are a grazing bird. They should leave on their own as the weather warms and clears. We're not sure that there is anyone to help them unless you call a local wildlife rescue group. If they are Mute Swans, your state wildlife officials like many others states may kill the Mute Swans so you may need to be careful who you contact.

Federal and state wildlife officials throughout the U.S. have been misrepresenting the Mute Swans to taxpayers as being non-native, invasive and detrimental to the environment. These false attributes have been used to get the taxpayers to agree to the Mute Swan killing program so that the larger Trumpeter Swans can be introduced into the Mute Swan habitats for Trophy Waterfowl hunting. This introduction/killing program has cost taxpayers billions of dollars for the past 20 years.

For this reason, you must be careful when asking for help. It is possible that the swans could be chased, but there are no guarantees that they will not return. Coyotes are a great concern as they can and will attack the swans. If the swans are alerted to the predators, they will leave on their own. The best possible scenario is to chase the swans and harrass them enough to force them to leave the area. It is highly unlikely that the swans could be captured for relocation because they can fly. So, if chasing does not help, there is not much else that can be done and the birds must be left to their own devices to escape. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Swans in wheat field, a lot of coyotes present -- Donna -- 20 January 2018
Re: Swans in wheat field, a lot of coyotes present -- The Regal Swan -- 20 January 2018