Mute Swan

Location: in the water off Harbour Square Park
Date photo taken: 10 May 2014

On a recent walk out to the west end, I was amazed by the number of swans I saw in the Humber River. Swans are not an unusual sight in the city but it seems to me that their numbers are increasing, so I did a little reading. It turns out that their numbers are indeed going up and that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in partnership with the City of Toronto have been quietly working for years to control the population. Their efforts are only targeting this type of swan, the mute swan. According to an explanatory letter from the TRCA, mute swan populations are being controlled because "mute swans are not native to North America and their population has been steadily increasing over the last decade, as they appear to lack significant natural predators. They cause significant damage to natural habitats; they displace and disrupt native waterfowl and other wildlife species that are less common and more sensitive to disturbance; and they can be very aggressive toward people." That last part is important because swans are powerful creatures. While they may look serene, they can be very dangerous if approached, especially if they are near their nests or young.

Native trumpeter swans, extinct in Ontario until recently, can also be found in Toronto, although in small numbers. They are larger and have straight necks and black bills while mute swans are easily distinguished by their curved necks and orange bills. To read about the effort to reintroduce trumpeter swans to Ontario, and about where to find them in Toronto, check out Margaret Bream's article in the February Toronto Star. To read more about efforts to control mute swan populations, visit the High Park Nature Centre website.