SAV is vital to the survival of many important bay creatures, including blue crabs, and can clear the water of sediment and excess nutrients. For these reasons, restoration of aquatic vegetation has long been a major goal for the Chesapeake Bay. Mute swans are a major hindrance to this worthy effort.
Mute swans are, admittedly, charismatic birds, but they do not belong in the Chesapeake Bay. They should be admired in local parks and other controlled environments while removing one more threat from the lives of our struggling native species.
Gail Mackiernan, conservation chair of the Montgomery Bird Club Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society
Maybe animal rights groups need watchdogs
Ms. LeCain suggests that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may require watchdogs to oversee the use of lethal management efforts for wildlife conservation. DNR watchdogs have been in place for many years. DNR frequently uses citizen committees and groups of stakeholders to contribute in wildlife conservation planning.
Nationwide, natural resource agencies utilize the best science for wildlife conservation efforts. Scientific management techniques can be placed in one of two groups: nonlethal and lethal. Professional wildlife biologists use the most effective technique based on each unique situation.
There are some private organizations that only support nonlethal methods of wildlife conservation. Some animal rights groups even work to stop effective, science-based lethal means of wildlife management. Sometimes an animal rights group's mission statement conflicts with good science.
Who are the watchdogs of animal rights organizations? Maybe it is time for watchdogs to ensure that animal rights groups are making wildlife recommendations based on science, not dogma.
L. Douglas Hotton, certified wildlife biologist, Salisbury
