Mute swans

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Do not feed mute swans. Feeding encourages swans to congregate, increases aggressive behavior, and leads to water quality issues.
• Keep outdoor areas free of spilled bird seed, pet food, or other food that could attract mute swans from nearby water.
• Properly dispose of yard fertilizer to avoid creating nutrient-rich runoff that can attract mute swans and other waterfowl.

Around home

• Mute swans are primarily associated with lakes, ponds, and wetlands and generally do not enter buildings. However, they may approach homes along shorelines.
• If swans repeatedly nest near your home, avoid disturbing the nest and keep a safe distance. Mute swans can be aggressive when defending nests or young.
• Maintain natural shoreline vegetation when possible. Tall and dense native plants like Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush can discourage swans from accessing lawns or beach areas.

Pets and livestock

• Mute swans can be aggressive toward dogs that approach them or their young.
• Keep dogs leashed around waterbodies where swans are present, particularly during nesting season (April through June).
• Mute swans may carry disease transmissible to poultry and pets. Ensure to keep them away from mute swans.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Eliminating food sources and preventing access to desirable nesting sites can help reduce conflicts with mute swans.
• Use fencing or tall and dense native vegetation along shorelines to limit access to lawns or beach areas.
• During swan nest-building starting in late March, the DNR may issue permits for nest and egg destruction in certain circumstances. Do not disturb nests or eggs without a permit.
• Give swans plenty of space. Avoid approaching swans, especially during nesting and brood-rearing seasons when they are most defensive.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of mute swans other than for authorized management.

Lethal methods

• Mute swans are a non-native species in Michigan. Because they are managed at the state level, lethal control may only be conducted under a permit issued by the Michigan DNR.
• Property owners cannot lethally remove mute swans on their own.
• For concerns involving threats to human safety, property damage, or conflicts with mute swans, contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office.
• Because mute swans can damage vegetation and displace native species such as trumpeter and tundra swans, the DNR manages their numbers to protect Michigan’s natural ecosystems.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Encourage installation of signage at parks and waterfront areas instructing visitors not to feed swans and other wildlife.
• Educate residents about harms associated with feeding mute swans, including increased aggression, water contamination, and habitat damage.
• Consider ordinances and enforcement to minimize public feeding of wildlife.

Your community

• Mute swans do not enter buildings, but they may nest near structures along shorelines. Limit access to such areas using fencing or thick vegetation if conflicts occur.
• Implement ordinances and enforcement that prohibit feeding mute swans and other wildlife that may cause problems.

Public spaces

• Do not purposely place mute swans in municipal ponds or lakes.
• Maintain shoreline buffers with tall and dense native vegetation, such as Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush, in parks to discourage mute swans from accessing lawns or high-traffic areas.
• Where feasible, designate wildlife observation areas to keep the public at safe distances.

Pets and livestock

• Educate pet owners about keeping dogs leashed near waterbodies where swans are present.
• Mute swans may carry disease transmissible to poultry and pets. Ensure they are kept away from mute swans.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Discourage feeding of mute swans and other wildlife through public education and ordinance enforcement.
• Use tall and thick native vegetation, such as Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush, or fencing along shorelines to limit mute swan access to lawns, trails, and beaches.
• Where early nest removal is appropriate, landowners may request DNR guidance on permitted nest or egg destruction activities.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of mute swans other than for authorized management.

Lethal methods

• Lethal control of mute swans requires a permit from the Michigan DNR. Municipalities may not remove mute swans themselves without authorization.
• For public safety issues or conflicts with mute swans, contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Discourage people from feeding mute swans and other wildlife. Feeding encourages swans to congregate, increases aggressive behavior, and leads to water quality issues.
• Keep outdoor areas free of spilled bird seed, pet food, or other food that could attract mute swans from nearby water.

Around buildings

• Mute swans seldom interact with buildings, but they may frequent landscaped ponds on commercial or school properties.
• Use tall and dense native plants, such as Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush, or fencing along shorelines to limit mute swan access to high-use areas.

Pets and livestock

• Where onsite ponds or lakes are used for recreation or exercise, ensure dogs are leashed to prevent conflicts with swans.
• Mute swans can be aggressive and may carry disease transmissible to poultry and pets. Ensure they are kept away from mute swans.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Discourage feeding of mute swans and other wildlife through public education and ordinance enforcement.
• Where conflicts occur near artificial ponds, maintaining buffers with native shrubs like Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush may reduce swan presence.
• Use thick vegetation or fencing along shorelines to limit mute swan access to lawns, trails, and beaches.
• Where early nest removal is appropriate, landowners may request DNR guidance on permitted nest or egg destruction activities.
• Avoid approaching aggressive swans; give adults and young ample space.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of mute swans other than for authorized management.

Lethal methods

• Lethal control of mute swans requires a permit from the Michigan DNR. Mute swans cannot be lethally removed without authorization.
• For public safety issues or conflicts with mute swans, contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Mute swans may feed on aquatic vegetation and contaminant drainage ditches, ponds, and flooded fields.
• Maintain tall and dense native vegetation buffers around water features to reduce access. Shrubs such as Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush work well.

Your farm or orchard

• Swans generally remain near water but may rest or travel through cropland.
• Mute swans rarely cause significant crop damage, though they may feed on emerging vegetation in shallow, flooded areas. They may also trample small plants when moving between waterbodies.
• If a swan nests near farm infrastructure, avoid disturbing the nest and contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office if conflicts arise.

Pets and livestock

• Mute swans may behave aggressively if livestock or working dogs approach a nest or brood. Keep animals separated from swan nesting areas.
• Mute swans may carry disease transmissible to poultry and pets. Ensure they are kept away from mute swans.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Discourage swans from nesting or loafing in crop areas by maintaining tall and dense native vegetation buffers. Shrubs such as Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush work well.
• Where water management allows, altering water levels may reduce swan access to flooded areas.
• Do not harass nesting swans; instead seek DNR guidance for permitted nest or site management options.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of mute swans other than for authorized management.

Lethal methods

• Mute swans are a non-native species in Michigan. Because they are managed at the state level, lethal control may only be conducted under a permit issued by the Michigan DNR.
• Property owners cannot lethally remove mute swans on their own.
• For concerns involving threats to human safety, property damage, or conflicts with mute swans, contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office.
• Because mute swans can damage vegetation and displace native species such as trumpeter and tundra swans, the DNR manages their numbers to protect Michigan’s natural ecosystems.

Airport

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Ensure stormwater ponds and other water features are not attracting swans by reducing growth of aquatic vegetation.
• Prohibit staff or visitors from feeding mute swans and other wildlife.

Around buildings

• Mute swans are unlikely to enter buildings but may nest near structures adjacent to ponds or drainage features. Keep tall and dense vegetation around water features to limit nesting. Shrubs such as Redosier dogwood and Buttonbush work well.

Airfields

• Maintain low vegetation and minimize water features to reduce attracting mute swans.
• Where ponds are required for stormwater management, planting thick vegetation or installing fencing along shorelines may discourage mute swans from nesting or loafing.
• Be cautious when approaching mute swans, as they may behave aggressively.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Reduce access to food, water, and nesting sites by encouraging tall and dense native vegetation or installing fencing around water features.
• Give swans ample space, particularly during nesting season.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of mute swans other than for authorized management.

Lethal methods

• A permit to control mute swans for aviation safety concerns may be issued by a DNR Wildlife Division regional supervisor or district law enforcement supervisor or their designee.
• For issues not involving public safety, airports must contact a nuisance animal control company.