Killing swans is certainly not an ideal option, and sterilizing them sounds
very appealing. However, it is very expensive (even as it risks missing
enough birds that it may not solve the problem). At a time when voters just
rejected taxes critical to avoiding even more draconian cuts in education
and infrastructure (roads & bridges) -- and Washington is already badly
lagging in both -- one should not expect the governor to consider funds for
sterilization to be a priority.

Whether one likes it or not, those in government must work from a very
limited set of options -- with resources and priorities defined by all the
voters, not just those of us on tweeters. The real options on this issue
are probably between killing the swans and permitting continued habitat
destruction, with the resulting loss in many other species. These are lousy
options, but not sure there are other realistic ones.

Chris Kessler
Seattle



On Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 8:13 PM, Diane Weinstein <diane_weinstein at msn.com>wrote:

> Killing is not the answer to every perceived wildlife problem.
> Certainly the swans could be sterilized and released to live out their
> normal lives. One pair of sterilized swans will not negatively affect the
> environment.
>
> As to the legislation to kill swans, my guess is that little to no wildlife
> related legislation has been passed by the state legislature without first
> being initiated or blessed by WDFW.
>
> As to who to contact, I prefer to starting at the top, since complaints to
> WDFW tend to fall on deaf ears. The governor?s contact page is
> http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp.
>
> Diane Weinstein
> Issaquah
>
> *From:* Guttman,Burt <GuttmanB at evergreen.edu>
> *Sent:* Friday, January 07, 2011 5:33 PM
> *To:* Tony <tvarela at hotmail.com> ; tweeters at u.washington.edu
> *Subject:* RE: [Tweeters] Mute Swans an Invasive Species ??
>
> 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
> 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
>
> ------------------------------
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