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IN THE NEWS: Service-funded Investigation into Trumpter Swan Die-off

Date Posted: February 8, 2011

Trumpeter (Cygnus buccinator) and tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus) populations wintering in northwest Washington State and on the Sumas Prairie, British Columbia, from 1999-2008, lost over 2,574 members, the majority (62%, 1,586) were confirmed as lead poisoned caused by the ingestion of lead pellets.

Concern for the wellfare of these swans led the Environmental Contaminants Program to fund an investigation to locate the source(s) of lead. The investigation and ongoing efforts to protect swans and address lead in the environment was recently featured in a story in the online magazine Miller-McCune.com.

Contacts:

Cindy_Schexnider@fws.gov 

Links:

Miller-McCune.com - Trumpeter Swans Try to Dodge a Bullet

Washington Fish and Wildlife Service Office

 
Last updated: February 13, 2013