Mute swan killed Oakland, MI (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 County: Oakland Local Map: available Disposition: Open Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case ID: 4933 Classification: Drowning Animal: bird (wildlife) View more cases in MI (US) Login to Watch this Case

The killing of a swan on Susin Lake has left some lakefront residents here and in surrounding areas worried about the safety of the birds, which others view as aggressive and a danger to lake-goers.

In early June, a mute swan was found dead in the lake with a cinder block tied to its legs. Officials do not have any suspects in the killing.

Spring and early summer signal the height of conflict between swans and humans. As the weather warms, more people get out on the water at the same time the swans are rearing their young. The birds often perceive boats and personal watercraft as a threat, and when they attack, it often earns them enemies.

But Sgt. Dan Toth of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said the Susin Lake swan is another matter.

"The swans are an issue every year like water is in the spring," said Toth, of the Marine Division. "When it gets to a dead swan, that's something different."

Clarkston resident Mike Forst, whose neighbor discovered the dead swan, said the incident appalls him.

Michigan is home to three types of swans: trumpeter swans, tundra swans and mute swans. The mute swan can be differentiated by its orange bill, and unlike the other two, it is not protected under federal law because is not a non-native species. Mute swans were introduced on the east coast around the turn of the century by estate owners and park caretakers who prized their beauty. They have since established a sizable breeding population in the United States.

Even though they lack protection, the person who killed the swan on Susin Lake can be charged with animal cruelty, said Robyn Flaherty of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services regional office.Many of the conflicts between humans and swans are the result of swans being territorial about their nests and newborns, said Toth. If a Jet Skier or boater gets too close, the swan often will feel threatened and charge, he said.

Last May, a swan attacked a man riding a personal watercraft on Lake Orion, and the encounter left the man with an inch-long gash in his head. The man applied for a permit to get rid of the swan, and it was euthanized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture weeks later.

But humans aren't always the innocent party. The sheriff's office receives numerous complaints about people on personal watercrafts harassing swans, Toth said, including reports that end up in tickets being issued for harassment.

Forst said he often sees Jet Skiers harassing swans on Susin Lake.

"There's always a couple of them that want to see how far they can go," he said. "It just takes a few to spoil it for everyone."

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References

The Detroit News - June 28, 2005

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