A unique dilemma is unfolding in Manlius, New York, over the fate of its cherished mute swans. The state sees the swans as a troublesome, invasive species needing regulation. Manlius' license, which was to run through 2025, allowed it to keep a pair of adult swans, Manny and Faye, who would produce cygnets each spring that were moved out of the state. Things changed in 2023: Police say three Syracuse teens seized Faye and cut off her head, then had her cooked and ate her. The swan's babies survived, but Manny was transferred to Pennsylvania after displaying aggressive behavior. Without an adult pair, the town is in breach of its license.
By year's end, Manlius faces a tough choice: sterilize the four surviving swans or keep only one gender, effectively severing the tradition of raising cygnets. Residents fear these measures could herald the disappearance of swans that have been a village symbol for over a century. The Department of Environmental Conservation maintains the birds are problematic, due in part to their sometimes aggressive nature, their consumption of up to 8 pounds of underwater vegetation daily, and their waste.
Resident sentiments, articulated by Mayor Paul Whorrall and others, highlight the deep cultural connection to the swans and resistance to their removal. Aiming to comply with state demands, the village even offered to sterilize new cygnets, though this proposal was ultimately rejected. The DEC says it "continues to work closely with the village of Manlius to ensure its possession of swans is wholly consistent with New York State and Atlantic flyway management objectives." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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