California has passed a law permitting the year-round hunting of mute swans, a non-native species deemed harmful to the state's wetlands and native waterfowl. The legislation, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, adds mute swans to the list of invasive birds that can be killed with minimal restrictions, effective from 1 January.
Wildlife officials argue that the move is necessary to protect California's already diminished wetlands, which have lost 90-95% of their historic area. Mute swans, which can consume up to 8lbs of vegetation daily and uproot aquatic plants, are said to degrade habitats and aggressively displace other species, particularly during breeding season.
The bill, authored by Republican Jeff Gonzalez and sponsored by the California Waterfowl Association, received support from conservation groups including the American Bird Conservancy. However, animal advocacy group Friends of Animals has condemned the law as 'inhumane', describing it as a desperate attempt by the hunting industry to expand its targets.
Mute swans, native to Eurasia, were introduced to North America in the mid-1800s and are not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition to licensed hunters, property owners and tenants with written permission may hunt the birds without a licence. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife notes that invasive species are the second-largest threat to native species after habitat loss.
