UPDATE: 6-9-15:
MUTE SWAN BILL JUST PASSED NY ASSEMBLY by a vote of 86-5!!! (Already passed NY Senate by a vote of 60-1).
Contact Governor Cuomo and encourage him to sign the mute swan bill! S01555/A03675!
The DEC needs to provide proof!!!
Hats
off to the NY Assembly and the NY Senate for passing this bill by an
overwhelming combined vote of 146 to 6.
This
is the “Justification” portion of the Bill:
“Wildlife
experts, rehabilitators and environmentalists do not unanimously agree that
exterminating the mute swan population is justified. In addition, there is
debate amongst such experts about whether the planned eradication of the mute
swan population is even minimally beneficial to the eco-system or to our
environment. Therefore, it is incumbent on the Department of Environmental
Conservation to illustrate the necessity of eradicating this non-native species
by demonstrating the actual damage to the environment or other species caused
by mute swans.”
Among
other things, the bill requires the DEC to “(1) fully document the scientific
basis for future population projections; and (2) fully document the scientific
basis for current and projected environmental damage.”
The
DEC does not even have an accurate count of the number of mute swans in upstate
New York. There have been significant die-offs over the last two years because
of the harsh winters. This quote comes directly from the DEC:
"You
may recall we have had two very cold winters since then with extensive ice
cover. Mute swans are not migratory and require access to submerged aquatic
vegetation. When ice covers the shallow waters, the swans cannot access the
plants they need for food (they can only reach down about 4 feet). We have
documented swans starving in the bays each of the past two winters, so I
suspect any lack of numbers this spring is due to winter losses caused by
nature."
The
DEC's own reports show that mute swan numbers have been dropping on Lake Ontario,
even before the last two harsh winters. Its 2013 Report indicates 193 mute
swans on Lake Ontario in 2002 and only 169 in 2011, or a 12% decrease over a 9
year period. (2013 DEC Report, page 5).
While
the DEC estimates a mere “200” mute swans in ALL of Upstate New York (50,000
plus square miles). This is only a guess by the DEC, however, and is likely
much lower than that.
In
any event, mute swans have been in New York for 150 years. Less than 200 in all
upstate New York in that time period is hardly a crisis. There is no need to do
something so drastic or rush to do so. There is simply no justification for the
complete extermination of ALL upstate mute swans. There is no reason why
reasonable management is not an option.
It
is also interesting the DEC proposes permitting 800 mute swans in downstate/New
York City area (only 4,000 square miles), but will not allow ANY in the 50,000
square miles of upstate New York. The DEC plan is the very definition of
arbitrary and capricious. The DEC plan reeks of politics, not science.
*********************************************************************************
A LETTER FROM
(SOS) SAVE OUR SWANS NY
URGENT!!!!
Please read below and take action! Get the facts and decide for yourself. Sign this ONLINE PETITION.
Thank
you so much for taking an interest in our organization, SOS – Save Our Swans.
I am a student trying to raise awareness about the crisis with the mute swans. My family and friends are helping me. We just learned about this situation recently and were outraged to hear that the New York State DEC plans on killing all mute swans in Upstate New York.
I am a student trying to raise awareness about the crisis with the mute swans. My family and friends are helping me. We just learned about this situation recently and were outraged to hear that the New York State DEC plans on killing all mute swans in Upstate New York.
We have enjoyed seeing
the swans on Lake Ontario near Rochester, New York, for the past 10 years. We would often kayak near them and have never
observed any aggressive behavior toward us, only enjoyed their beauty. I could not believe what I was hearing. We had no idea! Why would the DEC want to kill these
beautiful animals? Just a few years ago CBS Sunday Morning showcased the beauty of Rochester's mute swans to the world!
My
family, friends, and I have been looking into this a lot over the last few
weeks. We are trying to understand where
the DEC is coming from and why they want to do this. The more we read and research, the more upset
we got. We have read in depth the DEC’s original 2013 plan, its responses to the complaints to the
original plan, its Revised Plan
(March 2015), and numerous news articles.
We
learned that the DEC originally wanted to kill every single mute swan in New
York State. There was a great deal of public
outcry about this, especially from the New York City area. There are about 2,000 mute swans Downstate
and only about 200 in all of Upstate.
Last year, there
were bills in the New York Senate and Assembly which were passed, but were vetoed
by Governor Cuomo because the DEC promised to go back to the drawing board and
issue a new plan.
Their new plan came out earlier this month and proposes to kill ALL 200 Upstate mute swans, reduce the Downstate population to 800 (killing 1,200), and sterilize the rest so they cannot reproduce. The DEC said it would consider non-lethal methods of killing only where “practical and timely” and only if paid for by others.
Thus, the DEC’s ultimate goal of eliminating all mute swans remains the same, except possibly in a few isolated parks where the towns must agree to clip the wings of the swans and make sure they do not reproduce.
Their new plan came out earlier this month and proposes to kill ALL 200 Upstate mute swans, reduce the Downstate population to 800 (killing 1,200), and sterilize the rest so they cannot reproduce. The DEC said it would consider non-lethal methods of killing only where “practical and timely” and only if paid for by others.
Thus, the DEC’s ultimate goal of eliminating all mute swans remains the same, except possibly in a few isolated parks where the towns must agree to clip the wings of the swans and make sure they do not reproduce.
A new bill
has been introduced again in the Assembly by Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz demanding public hearings and
scientific evidence from the DEC. Without public support, there is no guarantee that this bill will pass. Find out whether your local politician voted for the bill last year HERE. Demand answers from them and insist that they support the new bill and stand up to the DEC!
We
know that the number of mute swans Upstate has not increased in 15 years and
that the number on Lake Ontario has actually decreased. We cannot understand what the hurry is and
why it is necessary to kill all 200 Upstate swans. Why not reasonable management?
So
this is what we are trying to accomplish:
· Raise
Awareness:
Not
too many people even know about the DEC plans.
For example, on March 21, 2015, we were at a local mall and obtained 314 signatures in just 2 hours! Not one
person we spoke to knew what DEC’s plans were, almost everyone was just as outraged
as we are. We think the people should at
least know about what is going on and have a chance to voice their opinion
about the plan.
· Demand
the DEC Produce Scientific Proof Before They Do Something So Drastic: Regardless of
the fact that there are only a small number of mute swans in Upstate New York, the DEC’s plan to kill these defenseless animals is based on flawed data. For example, DEC is concerned about
vegetative and aquatic life if the mute swan population were to expand to their
projected amounts. The DEC reports are
not conclusive and admit that further study is needed. We think further study should be done too. Without proof of harm why do something so drastic???
DEC documentation does not provide scientific evidence demonstrating the impacts of how a few swans could possibly impact 7,320 square miles of Lake Ontario. In fact, according to a recent article in the NY Times by Hugh Raffles, Professor of Anthropology (with a doctorate from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies) states that a review of DEC’s study has “produced some markedly inconclusive science" and that "the threat from New York’s swans appears largely speculative.” He questions the DEC’s concern for the swan’s appetite for sub-aquatic vegetation because mute swans compose about half of 1 percent of New York’s more than 400,000 waterfowl and the impact on New York State ecosystems would be minor.
· Mobilize New Yorkers to Take Action: Citizens have until April 24, 2015 to submit a response to DEC’s revised plan. New Yorkers can be a “Good Swan-a-maritan” by helping in the following ways:
DEC documentation does not provide scientific evidence demonstrating the impacts of how a few swans could possibly impact 7,320 square miles of Lake Ontario. In fact, according to a recent article in the NY Times by Hugh Raffles, Professor of Anthropology (with a doctorate from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies) states that a review of DEC’s study has “produced some markedly inconclusive science" and that "the threat from New York’s swans appears largely speculative.” He questions the DEC’s concern for the swan’s appetite for sub-aquatic vegetation because mute swans compose about half of 1 percent of New York’s more than 400,000 waterfowl and the impact on New York State ecosystems would be minor.
· Mobilize New Yorkers to Take Action: Citizens have until April 24, 2015 to submit a response to DEC’s revised plan. New Yorkers can be a “Good Swan-a-maritan” by helping in the following ways:
1. Voicing
opposition in an ONLINE PETITION at Change.org (and directing friends and family to
help).
2. Starting
a petition opposing DEC’s plan at various schools, colleges, and/or workplaces. Completed petitions can be scanned and
emailed to sossaveourswansny@gmail.com
3. Visit
us and like us on Facebook at “SOS Save Our Swans” (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009296380326)
By being a voice for the Mute Swan, you are raising
awareness for these graceful and majestic gifts of nature that have contributed
to our picturesque state for over 150 years.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!!
Here is some more information:
1. SUMMARY OF KEY FACTS about the DEC reports;
2. Key points from Professor Raffles’ article;
Our sincere appreciation,
S.O.S.
– Save Our Swans
