Mute Swans in Maryland:
A Statewide Management Plan
Natural Resources Article (NR), Section 10-101 includes the definition of wetland game
birds. “Wetland game birds” mean brant, coots, ducks,
gallinules, geese, mergansers, rails, snipe, and swan or any part, egg,
offspring, or dead body of any of them. This
section also defines unprotected birds. “Unprotected
bird,” means any English sparrow and European starling or any part, egg, offspring, or dead body of any of them.
NR Article, Section 10-205 authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to adopt
regulations to enlarge, extend, restrict or prohibit hunting, possessing,
purchasing, shipping, carrying, transporting, or exporting wildlife.
NR Article, Section 10-206 authorizes the DNR to reduce the wildlife population in any
county, election district, or other identifiable area after a thorough
investigation reveals that protected wildlife is seriously injurious to
agricultural or other interests in the affected area.
The method of reducing the population is at the DNR’s discretion.
NR Article, Section 10-211 requires the DNR to establish a program to control the
population of mute swans; authorizing the DNR to include the managed harvest of adult mute swans in this program; authorizing the DNR to solicit licensed hunters to participate in
the managed harvest of adult mute swans; and generally relating to the management of the mute swan population.
NR Article, Section 10-903 provides statutory authority for the DNR to adopt regulations
that prohibit or restrict the importation, exportation, sale, release, or
possession of wildlife not native to Maryland on a finding that the wildlife
is harmful to native wildlife or to natural ecosystems.
NR Article, Section 10-905 prescribes the Game Husbandry License.
The license specifies which species of game birds, which can be bred,
raised, protected, or sold and for what purpose, the type of fencing or other
requirements necessary to prevent undesirable mixing of native wildlife and
the captive game birds, and any other conditions necessary to ensure adequate
protection of native wildlife.
NR Article, Section 10-908 prescribes the Wildlife Cooperator Permit. The permit allows any properly accredited person desiring to assist the DNR in the control of wildlife injurious to agriculture or other interests, or to provide care and treatment of sick or injured wildlife for rehabilitation and release back into the wild. The DNR may adopt regulations governing the issuance, revocation, terms, and
conditions of the permit.
All
contents (c) 2003 Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife and Heritage Service
April 14, 2003
APPENDIX B: Maryland Statutes Pertaining to the Management of Mute Swan
Statutes within the Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland that pertain
to management actions identified in this plan:
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