Posted by Ranger Sally (165.83.5.15) on October 09, 2003 at 13:36:14:
In Reply to: Population posted by Kathleen Moffitt on October 09, 2003 at 13:06:15:
: Why is the trumpeter swan population at risk?
Thanks for your question, Kathleen. Over all, the trumpeter swan population of North America is NOT currently at risk. In fact, trumpeters are not even listed as an endangered species. However, the population of resident trumpeter swans that live in Yellowstone Park year-round ARE at risk. This is due to lack of recruitment of new members into the resident swan population. Another reason for the decline of the Yellowstone trumpeter swans is because their eggs may fail to hatch or cygnets never reach adulthood due to disturbances during incubation, flooding of nest sites, and predation. Also, there is only a fixed amount of winter habitat available in Yellowstone. In the winter, when resident swans must share this with migrating waterfowl, the result can be overcrowding, which drains the available food supply.