First, we do not know where you are located, but many states are commissioning hunters to kill any Mute Swans on any lake. This is to open the habitat so that they can introduce the larger Trumpeter Swans for Trophy Waterfowl hunting purposes.

If any of your swans can fly, it will increase the chance that all of your swans will be killed at some time from this killing program.

You need to get the swans pinioned (rendered unable to fly by amputating a partial portion of one wing) so they cannot fly. As swans get older, this is an extremely difficult procedure for the swans and some may not make it through the anesthesia. You will also need to find a veterinarian that is not under law to kill the birds once they are reported to him/her.

Second, we would suggest that if you get both pinioned, that you allow the mother and the cygnet to live together. If the cygnet is another female, they will do just fine, if it is a male, then at 2 years of age it may begin to mate with the mother and start a family. This will not cause any alarm as birds are not like mammals, and this close relationship usually does not cause any problems (i.e. birth defects, etc.).

Third, if you decide to do nothing, there is always the chance that if they both fly, they will stay on your pond as they know they have a safe habitat with food resources. This is a tough call as we do not know if the hunting was an intentional or accidental killing. If it was accidental, we would suggest that you do nothing and do not try to get another swan as you may need a permit for possession under the new laws, breeding permits if they produce cygnets and there is no guarantee that she will take another mate from outside the immediate family.

If the cygnet stays, the mother will do just fine and if it leaves, she will do fine on her own especially if you have other waterfowl, ducks, geese, egrets, etc. We hope this information is of benefit to you.