I was quite alarmed by this item in the Olympian. Thanks, Tony, for the link to the law. The long-term question for me is, "What jerk decided that Mute Swans are such a terrible invasive species that they have have to be killed, and how can we get some of our legislators to change the law?" The short-term question is whether we birders and other nature enthusiasts can exert some pressure on the officials with shotguns who are likely to be out gunning for these beautiful creatures? It's probably the same pair that comes over here to Long Lake occasionally, and the thought of anyone killing them makes me sick. Ideas, anyone? Does anyone have personal connections to people who might be able to stop this now?

Burt Guttman
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA 98505 guttmanb at evergreen.edu <mailto:guttmanb at evergreen.edu>
Home: 7334 Holmes Island Road S. E., Olympia, 98503

________________________________

From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu on behalf of Tony
Sent: Thu 1/6/2011 3:08 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Mute Swans an Invasive Species ??


This is interesting and wonder if there is some other approach short of killing them??


Hicks Lake mute swans will be killed


http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/06/1496380/hicks-lake-mute-swans-will-be.html

The law:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-017