Photo by Melody Barker

More killings of mute swans on local waters has prompted a Warsaw woman to take action. Melody Barker has had enough of what she sees as inhumane killings of the regal waterfowl and has reached out to a national organization recognized as leader in swan research, swan veterinary medical care, research and conservation.

Barker is a Chapman Lake resident and, after losing sight of a mute swan family on the lake, is raising questions regarding the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ policy for killing the mute swans.

Barker had been watching a family of swans for several years and noticed recently that the male was missing. Upon further investigation, she was told about the alleged local Chapman Lake Conservation Association’s involvement in killing the swans. Just days ago, she took pictures of the remaining mate with cygnets. A day later, mother and cygnets were missing from lake, and Barker feels they met the same fate as the male swan.

Currently, The Regal Swan Foundation is fighting to save the mute swans in New York, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland and across the U.S from eradication, based on non-scientific research. Barker contacted the foundation about Indiana’s view of the mute swans being considered an invasive species and therefore not covered by domestic animal cruelty laws.

Just last year, mute swans were shot with a pellet gun, incapacitated, then allegedly beaten to death with a boat oar in the Barbee Chain of Lakes. While DNR investigating officers never saw the corpses of the birds, they ruled that, despite a violation of the permit, the kill method was within the DNR regulations.

(Photo by Melody Barker)

According to Barker, information provided during a recent Chapman Lake property owners meeting noted the INDNR has been issuing permits to “volunteers” representing The Chapman Lake Conservation Association to allegedly. The permits allow the volunteers to kill mute swans. According to Barker, the swans were allegedly killed because they were attacking people and the public had been given a chance to voice their concerns. Out of 200 respondents to a survey sent out by the CLCA, allegedly 120 individuals requested more information about the program but their requests were ignored and the killings began.

“How ironic, that our nation condemns the beating of whales, dolphins and sea lions in Japan, but the exact same thing is happening in our country, only involving a different species,” wrote Sheila A. Bolin, CEO/president of The Regal Swan Foundation. “Where are all of these same alleged outraged politicians, bureaucrats and government officials now that it is happening in our own backyard?”

While Indiana sees the mute swans as an invasive species that “are a detriment to the environment, lakes and surrounding wildlife,” a federal judge in Maryland called the information “junk science,” according to the foundation. The judge, according to the foundation, said conservation agencies “have no real scientific research to back up their claims of environmental damage by the mute swans, but are convincing taxpayers that this species of swan is an invasive species and thus, a detriment, in an effort to use taxpayer monies to fund this program.”

The Regal Swan Foundation is encouraging Indiana taxpayers to contact government officials, the DNR and local conservation associations and demand answers to questions like:

Were environmental impact studies conducted on any of the lakes where mute swans were supposedly causing damage before killing policies were endorsed? If so, who conducted it and where are the findings?

The DNR issues permits to volunteers to kill the swans, but who, if anyone supervises the killings?

If you are outraged by the DNR’s program that allows volunteers to kill mute swans, The Regal Swan Foundation encourages taxpayers to contact state lawmakers and the governor’s office to stop the brutal killings and provides the following contact information:

Indiana Governor Mike Pence (Governor Pence appointed Cameron Clark as Director of the INDNR)

State Senator Susan Glick – Majority Member of Environmental Affairs

Indiana State Representative David Wolkins (R-Winona Lake)

Cameron Clark – Director, Indiana DNR

Chapman Lakes Conservation Association

See Related:
Brutal Swan Killings Spark Public Outrage
DNR Protocol On Swan Killings Uncertain
Swan Permit Still Valid Despite Violation
DNR Concludes Swan Investigation
BLPOA, DNR Discuss Swan Killings