Mute Swan

The Mute Swan was introduced from Europe in the nineteenth century. They are now common in ponds in public parks and lakes, but there are also some in the wild. They can be aggressive if you get too close, make sure to be careful if you approach one near it’s nest. I used to feed these swans several times a day and the male would always hiss at me, everyday! Then of course he would eat the food! Make sure not to feed them bread or anything similar, it can swell up in their necks. If you want to feed them, there is waterfowl food for swans and ducks you could buy or just a cheap dry dog food works just as good. Since they are a non-native, invasive species a lot of areas won’t let you keep swans or introduce them to a lake without clipping their wings, if at all. The Swan destroy submerged aquatic vegetation by trampling plants, uprooting vegetation and overgrazing. They overtake shallow areas where native ducks tend to feed. They are beautiful, but they are not without controversy!