There were more than a thousand mute swans on Muskegon Lake when the U.S. Wildlife Services counted them in September.
“They'll go after other birds. They'll drive out native waterfowl, including native trumpeter swan.”
Chelsey Lawton is the interim executive director of the Muskegon Conservation District.
“They’ll go after kayakers and boaters if they get too close too. They're just very aggressive. “
The large waterfowl are an invasive species which damage ecosystems by uprooting aquatic plants in vital wetlands.
To reduce numbers, trained USDA staff will shoot birds this fall.
“I know people tend to not like this kind of this kind of effort, but it is for a greater purpose. We're trying to help native species thrive where these ones are pushing them out.”
Phase 2 starts in the spring, focusing on “oiling the eggs,” a process in which eggs are coated to prevent oxygen from passing through the shell, stopping the embryo from developing.
“Because if we were to just take the eggs out of the nests, they'll just re-lay more so they sit there and they just don't hatch. At that point, it's too late in the season for them to lay more.”
The project is permitted by the state, will be overseen by the U.S. Wildlife Services and has the support of The Muskegon Conservation District, Muskegon, North Muskegon and Laketon Township.
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