Residents of California are being called upon to manage a problematic and hostile aquatic creature that has recently invaded the state.

In response to growing concerns, new legislation grants Californians the right to eliminate mute swans for a period of five years. These birds, labeled as ‘invasive,’ have been known to pose a threat, including incidents of aggression towards children.

The legislative move aims to confront the increasing issues tied to the expansion of these ‘destructive’ swans, as highlighted by California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced.

Governor Gavin Newsom of California gave his approval to Assembly Bill 764 on October 6, with the law slated to be enforced starting January 1, 2026.

Republican assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez from California spearheaded the bill, describing it as a ‘proactive, science-driven solution’ to the challenges posed by the mute swans.

‘By responsibly managing invasive mute swans, we’re taking an important step to ensure future generations inherit a California just as rich in natural beauty as the one we enjoy today,’ Gonzalez said to State Affairs.

There have been 12,350 mute swans spotted in California this year, per data published by the CDFW.

In 2024, about 6,900 mute swans were estimated to be in the state.

Californians will be allowed to hunt mute swans for five years starting on January 1, 2026

California governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law earlier this month

The giant birds are largely found in the Suisun and Napa marshes.

Mute swans weigh between 25-30 pounds and are about five feet tall with near-eight foot wingspans.

Despite its name, the mute swan is not actually completely silent; rather, the bird is quieter than other swans but can still grunt, hiss or snort.

The bird can be identified from other swans because of its orange bill, S-shaped neck and long tail feathers.

Californians sometimes keep mute swans as aesthetic ‘pets’ at their homes or across city parks.

Mute swans arrived in the US from western Europe in the late 1800s and have since become an ‘invasive’ species across California and other parts of the country, including Maryland or Michigan.

They are not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The giant birds are considered ‘very territorial’ and ‘aggressive’

The bill was introduced by Republican California assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez

The birds are considered ‘very territorial’ and ‘aggressive’ towards native waterfowl and people, according to the CDFW.

There have been reports of mute swans ‘critically’ injuring children and pets.

‘They might be a pretty, big, white bird, and they may be charismatic, but they can be pretty nasty,’ Brad Bortner, retired chief of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s division of migratory bird management, said to CalMatters.

Mute swans are also destructive towards their ecosystem.

The massive animals require about eight pounds of food a day, meaning that they completely ravage their ecosystem and put other waterfowl and fish in danger.

Mute swans do not migrate, which makes getting rid of them tricky.

The legislation allowing for the birds to be hunted expires January 1, 2031.

According to California state law, English sparrows (left) and European starlings (right) can also be hunted

In August, the bill was called ‘reckless’ and ‘inhumane’ by the Friends of Animals advocacy group.

A statement said: ‘It is a desperate attempt by a dying hunting industry to add another ‘bird to the bag’ and we won’t stand by and let it happen!’

The group accused hunters of spreading misinformation about mute swans and hoping for what they called a ‘state-sanctioned killing spree.’

The statement continued: ‘Persecution persists thanks to ongoing smear campaigns that label mute swans as invasive even though they have been here since the late 19th Century.

‘When wildlife agencies like the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, which treat hunters as clients, get away with saying that mute swans are invasive, all the misconduct toward these majestic birds is justified in the eyes of the abusers. 

‘It opens the door for mistreatment and lack of respect and continues to put them in harm’s way.’

According to California state law, English sparrows and European starlings can also be hunted without needing a hunting license or depredation permit.