The news lately has been filled with local and federal stories ranging from evacuations, to President Obama’s State of the Union Address, to Super Bowl XLVIII. Rarely does the state get involved with news stories and most people would think that if it does get involved, it goes beyond a local and federal level.
Right here in the Big Apple on Long Island, the state is going to be involved with the capturing and killing of Mute Swans by 2025. To put it simply, Mute Swans are a species of swan that is native to Europe and Asia. The term mute comes from it being less vocal than other swan species.
The Department of Conservations claims that the state’s 2,200 swans are destroying water plants, putting planes at risk and polluting water. There were similar cases like this that involved animals including Snowy Owls and Piranha-like Fish. Even though the swans have been in the area since the 1800s, the DEC says, “the plan is to protect native species.”
Online petitions are being held to encourage the state to reconsider what they are planning to do with the swans. The petition can be found at <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/usda-wildlife-services-and-national-park-services-don-t-kill-swans-in-jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge" target="_blank“>“Don’t Kill Swans in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.”
Facebook
Instagram
RSS