California Is Getting Tough on ‘Aquatic Feral Pigs’
Mute swans float on the River Thames, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, in Windsor, England. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
California hunters will soon be permitted to hunt mute swans year-round, as state wildlife officials move to control what they describe as a highly destructive and invasive species.
Beginning January 1, anyone holding a valid hunting license will be able to take mute swans at any time, while landowners and leaseholders may do so without a license or permit. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) says the decision is meant to protect native habitats and species that are being damaged by the birds’ aggressive behavior and heavy feeding on aquatic vegetation.
“These habitats are limited in California and are essential for many sensitive native species as well as for breeding ducks and other wetland-dependent birds,” the agency said in a statement.
CDFW spokesperson Melania Weaver compared the mute swans to “aquatic feral pigs,” noting that each bird can consume up to eight pounds of vegetation per day. Originally imported from Europe to New York in the late 1800s for ornamental display, some of the swans escaped captivity or were deliberately released, eventually spreading across several U.S. states.
According to CDFW records, mute swans were first observed in California’s Suisun and Napa marshes during a 2007 survey. Their population has since grown to roughly 6,900 statewide. They are now listed as a “restricted and detrimental species,” making it illegal to import, transport, or possess them in the state.
Although less vocal than other swan species, mute swans are far from peaceful. They are known to hiss, snort, and even attack when threatened. Wildlife officials report that the birds can drive native waterfowl from nesting areas, injure or kill other birds, and have attacked people, sometimes seriously harming children and pets.
Because they are not native to North America, mute swans are not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the new policy into law earlier this month, grouping mute swans with two other invasive species—English sparrows and European starlings—that hunters in California may legally take at any time.
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