DNR investigates trumpeter swan shootings

It's difficult to mistake a trumpeter swan for a snow goose -- swans are much larger, with much longer necks.Yet despite warnings from the DNR, some swans inevitably are shot by hunters. Conservation officers are investigating several such cases this fall."There's really no excuse for shooting one because Minnesota hunters won't encounter any other waterfowl as large as a trumpeter swan," said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement director. Konrad said that trumpeter swans have long necks, weigh up to 28 pounds, can be 59 to 72 inches long, and have wingspans up to 8 feet.Snow geese are smaller than a Canada goose. They average 25 to 31 inches long and weigh only 6 or 7 pounds."It's like comparing a bus with a minivan," Konrad said.Also, trumpeter swans are all white, while snow geese have distinct jet‑black tips on their wings.Trumpeter swans are a federally protected species and people who shoot them face fines up to $1,700 plus a loss of hunting equipment and hunting licenses for up to three years.Tundra swans are slightly smaller than trumpeters. They too have the distinctive long neck and are all white. Tundra swans, which are far more numerous than trumpeters, are hunted in some states. But in Minnesota, both species are protected.Here are some recent cases:· Two men face charges for killing two trumpeter swans several weeks ago in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area.· A trumpeter swan was shot and killed in Kandiyohi County and found along a gravel road near a large slough.· A trumpeter swan was shot and killed near Brownton.· And a trumpeter swan was shot and killed near Pine River. Konrad said anyone with information should call the Turn-In-Poachers hotline at (800) 652-9093.