"The picturesque wedding swan can now be legally shot in California year-round, without a license. Under a bill signed into law this month by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the mute swan has been added to the list of nongame birds that can taken or possessed at any time. Assembly Bill 764, by Jeff Gonzalez, R-Coachella, takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and expires after five years."
"The intent is to reduce the population of the non-native mute swan, a large, voracious and territorial bird that competes for resources with native waterfowl and other wetland species. Most of them are in the Suisun Marsh, at the east edge of the Bay Area. Native to Europe and Asia, these are the birds most people picture when they hear swan large, white, with curved necks and bright orange beaks."
"Weighing in at 25 to 30 pounds, they are very aggressive and have been known to inflict serious injuries on humans and pets. The mute swan is a formidable rival to California's most common native swan, the much smaller tundra swan, which is also differentiated by its straight neck and black beak. Since 2008, California has required a permit for importing or keeping mute swans, but the wild population has still exploded."
California has added the non-native mute swan to the list of nongame birds that may be taken or possessed year-round without a license under Assembly Bill 764, effective Jan. 1, 2026, and expiring after five years. The measure aims to reduce a rapidly growing mute swan population, concentrated in Suisun Marsh, that competes with native waterfowl and other wetland species. Mute swans are large, aggressive birds weighing 25 to 30 pounds and have inflicted injuries on humans and pets. No license is required on private land with permission, and those who kill mute swans are encouraged to report removals to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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