The state Department of Environmental Conservation has called off its plan to slaughter the non-native mute swans living in New York State.
They still want to eradicate the majestic non-native birds by the year 2025, but they won’t be shooting them or gassing them. Instead they will focus on birth control.
No, they’re not going to hand out condoms to randy male swans. Instead they’re going to paint the eggs with oil to keep them from hatching.
The decision was made after the DEC received 16,000 letters and more than 30,000 people signed petitions to save the birds.
That’s an enormous outpouring considering that there are less than the 2,500 mute swans in the entire state.
Sadly the DEC didn’t quite get the message: Leave the swans alone.