DNR boss: Keep killing mute swans

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Are any of us really native to Mary - 2009-06-22 23:54:41

I don't think many of us are truly "native" to this area, so, does this give me the "go ahead" to go on a killing spree of all the humans that have destroyed just about everything there is? The only good "R Black" is a .....

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P. Wilson - Bowie, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Finally - 2009-06-12 14:06:03

Finally, an article where Reggie's comments are right on!

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Scott S. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

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holocaust schmolocaust - 2009-06-12 12:17:36

Get a clue. The scenarios are different to say the least. In maryland we are dealing with an invasive species that is harming our natural environment, not native fauna that is pooping on ball fields.No politician's career will be harmed by advocating the permanent removal of the scourge of the mute swan. In fact the People demand that th ekilling take place immediately until the mute swan are completely silenced.

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reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

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Mute Swan Holocaust 2009 - 2009-06-12 11:41:47

This is much like the Seattle Goose Holocaust 2000. Perhaps the Maryland politicians should talk to the politicians of Seattle who participated in that. If they can find them.

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S. Abbott - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Overpopulation - 2009-06-10 13:55:27

Can we do something about the overpopulation of idiots in our country, if not killing them lets send them to Iraq or Afghanistan.
"Common Sense Isn't So Common."

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jeff r. - , - Karma: Neutral

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Ms. Burton - 2009-06-10 13:19:08

Why not start a fundraiser to collect funds to pay for the capture and transpotation of the Muted Swans to Old Lyme Connecticut? I'm sure the swans wouldn't mind the trip. You could then have your tax dollars spent to control the inevitable overpopulation that will come. Step up, the State of Maryland might even issue you a letter of commendation!

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Robin S. - Churchton, MD - Karma: Neutral

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mute swans - 2009-06-10 12:55:46

Let's see, 500 mute swans in a watershed of 64,000 sq miles and a bird population of more than a million, every migrating season,
and residual pollutants and dangerous munition material popping us every once in a while, and dredge spoil island created from poisonous, heavy metal and material from paint,paper and chemical sites and ambiant
mercury, hog and chicken farms....how can they find these birds and why would the state want to have people looking at all that garbage rather than a few hundred birds that most people think are beautiful? What will we look at, now? the red tides? Mute swans remove algae, that shadows the SAVs
thereby killing it....they pay their way and as in so many things to do with the Bay, in
just a few years the agencies and citizens will know they removed something they should have kept. The Ornithological Council on a
November issue of their newsletter stated that "The agencies are not scientists!" They got THAT right. Stop killing the swans.

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Kathryn Burton - Old Lyme, CT - Karma: Bad

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But they're purty! - 2009-06-09 20:43:29

While we're at it why don't we save the nutria and help along the spread of zebra mussels?! Because the swans are purty and those other things arent. ONLY 500?! This whole problem started out with just a few birds. Ive seen entire beds of volunteer-planted bay grasses largely devastated by these birds. They dont just eat the grass, like cows, they destroy it. Maybe its too late for Georgia to get rid of kudzu but heres a chance to get rid of one of our own invasive species - purty or not.

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Nils P. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Good

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Kill the swan with a vengeance - 2009-06-09 18:59:42

Sure humans cause more problems then this alien swan, but you can't kill waterfront property owners. Besides these animals are destructive and simply can't be trusted to practice birth control; therefore, they must be killed sooner than later. Maybe these pro-swan lifers will handcuff themselves to the swan's neck--that would be awesome.

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reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

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mute swans - 2009-06-09 16:43:14

Maybe 50 years from now they will regret killing these animals? No other method suitable? That is what I am wondering...True death has happened to the BAY already and will keep happening with every extra person, every extra home and development and every extra automobile that doesn't get the 35 mpg or more.

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linda k. - barboursville, WV - Karma: Neutral

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John M. Thank you - 2009-06-09 15:55:16

Thank you for that site link, and they state, and I quote:

4. Are mute swan populations a threat to the Chesapeake Bay?

No. There are only about 500 swans in the Maryland Chesapeake. They are in no way a threat to the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The Chesapeake Bay is a dynamic ecosystem stressed by the effects of pollution, turbidity and the catastrophic effects (contamination with pesticides, fertilizers, sewage, septic algae, etc.) of rampant development of adjoining land. But the Chesapeake Bay has always been host to huge populations of various species of waterfowl including geese and swans and ducks, all of which eat aquatic grasses. From a macro perspective, the relatively recent arrival of a few thousand mute swans is just a minorand incredibly beautifulvariation in the annual species composition of waterfowl in the bay.
unquote

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Jen Rhoades - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

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HSUS's take - 2009-06-09 15:30:41

For a different take on this issue, go to http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/faq_md_swan.html. This is the Maryland Humane Society's slant on this whole issue. Since the decision to move forward on the mute swan problem is a judgement call, there is no definitive science that mandates one choice or the other.

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John M. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

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The Anti-Science Crowd Trolling Her - 2009-06-09 14:29:24

I present hard scientific facts on the negative affects of mute swans and the comment gets downgraded.

500 mute swans vs. thousands of fish and crabs

I go with the thousands of fish and crabs. What do these mute swan lovers have against fish and crabs? Why are they willing to sacrifice crabs and fish just to keep 500 destructive swans alive?

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R. Black - Churchton, MD - Karma: Neutral

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Gross Attitude Toward Life - 2009-06-09 13:56:25

"Humanely" eradicating a species because we have deemed it destructive simply does not make sense as that is the thought process of genocide. There is no species more overpopulated that causes more serious damage to the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem, native birds and wildlife than human beings- should we "humanely" begin to cut down our population by either shooting or breaking necks? Why would that be horrific or absurd while an entitlement is felt to treat other life in this manner? Let's not forget that WE are the animals that destroy our own environment and address that before pretending it is acceptable to murder other innocent life. As stewards of the environment, it is up to us to care for this watershed and all the life it contains intelligently and with compassion- especially in instances such as this one that was caused by our own doing.

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Rachel R. - , M - Karma: Neutral

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The Damage Done by Mute Swans - 2009-06-09 13:03:44

Mute swans can reduce SAV in a given area by up to 79% on average. 80% reduction in under water vegetation in a small creek is very serious and very harmful. This is why they must be eradicated. It is a shame that they were brought here and escaped, but it is beyond time to rectify this problem.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/download/mute_swan_herbivory.pdf

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R. Black - Churchton, MD - Karma: Neutral

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A better way is needed - 2009-06-09 12:46:45

There has got to be a better way to handle these birds. As evasive as they may be, they were forcibly captured and brought to Talbot County, and now escaped. Then the DNR decides the correct way to deal with them is to kill them by preposterous methods of snapping their necks or shooting them, oh my God. I disagree. The bird population is under 500. They should continue to oil the eggs to stop reproduction, and either let the adult birds naturally die out, or how about relocating the birds. No one can tell me that a bird population under 500 is going to destroy the Bay.

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Jen Rhoades - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

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Keep up the good work DNR - 2009-06-09 11:48:43

The only good mute swan is a dead mute swan.

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R. Black - Churchton, MD - Karma: Neutral

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humane socieyt Idiocy - 2009-06-09 11:38:58

The humane societies argument is without merit. Birds do not eat in the same area lthat the boats are alledgedly killing the grasses. Silencing the mute swan is the only solution. Kill them when you see 'em folks--it's your civic duty

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reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral