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Assembly committee sends bill to let state better manage invasive mute swans
Summary
A California Assembly committee voted to send AB 764 to the Appropriations Committee after supporters said the bill would allow the Department of Fish and Wildlife to use additional management tools to limit growing mute swan populations that threaten wetlands and native waterfowl.
Assemblymember Jeff Gonzales presented AB 764 on behalf of the author, arguing the bill would add certain exotic non-game birds — including mute swans — to lists that permit active population-management tools.
Supporters told the committee that mute swans have increased substantially in recent years and are aggressively displacing native waterfowl and degrading remaining wetland habitat. Mark Henley of California Waterfowl told the committee the swan population in California had risen sharply, citing a two‑year increase and numbers “535% above their long term average,” and said management now is needed to avoid a population too large to control.
The bill’s backers compared California’s potential response to management programs in other states. Henley noted Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay effort, which he said reduced mute swan numbers from about 4,000 to under 200, and urged the committee to act sooner rather than later to protect wetlands and native species.
There were no witnesses recorded in opposition at the committee hearing. After brief questions and no substantive amendments on the record, the committee adopted a motion to pass AB 764 to the Appropriations Committee.
AB 764 was carried forward by committee motion to Appropriations; a roll call was taken and the measure received majority support in committee.
The bill’s supporters said the proposal is consistent with existing California programs that allow management of other nonnative nuisance species such as nutria, house sparrows, starlings and rock pigeons. Supporters asked the committee to allow Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement effective, early management strategies to protect remaining wetlands and native waterfowl populations.
No legal authorities beyond the bill text and general references to Department of Fish and Wildlife authority were cited during the hearing.
Assemblymember Gonzales requested an "I" vote and the motion to pass the bill to Appropriations carried.
Sources in the hearing: opening presentation by Assemblymember Jeff Gonzales and technical testimony from Mark Henley of California Waterfowl.
