The federal government is reviewing a proposal to introduce a new hunting season for tundra swans in the Prairie provinces, a move that has raised concerns about potential risks to trumpeter swans, a similar-looking species that is sensitive to hunting.
The proposed amendments to Canada’s migratory bird regulations aim to establish a tundra swan hunting season in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. While tundra swans are legally hunted in some U.S. states, they are currently a protected species at the federal level in Canada.
David Duncan, a hunter and former biologist, warns that allowing a tundra swan hunt could result in accidental shootings of trumpeter swans, which are a protected species across North America due to their resemblance to tundra swans and overlapping habitats.
Duncan emphasized the difficulty for most hunters to distinguish between the two species, especially when the swans are in flight, making it challenging to identify key features like bill markings or size differences.
As a retired biologist who worked with swans, including within the Canadian Wildlife Service, Duncan expressed concerns over the potential impact on trumpeter swans, once considered a threatened species in Alberta but now listed as a species of special concern due to population recoveries.
The proposal includes measures to safeguard trumpeter swans, such as mandatory reporting of tundra swan kills to verify the correct species and educating hunters on distinguishing between tundra and trumpeter swans.
Under the suggested hunt plan, permits would be issued for tundra swan hunting in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The government aims to provide new hunting opportunities while supporting outfitters and businesses in the region.
The proposal for the tundra swan hunting season is currently in the consultation phase, seeking public feedback before any formal decisions are made. Stakeholders’ interest in a tundra swan hunt prompted the proposal, with public comments accepted via email until the specified deadline.
In addition to the tundra swan hunting season, the government’s proposed migratory bird regulation changes involve introducing mourning dove hunting in the Prairie provinces and expanding sandhill crane hunting in Alberta, subject to population data, conservation concerns, and stakeholder input.
The implementation of any new hunting seasons, including those for tundra swans, is not expected before 2028, according to wildlife biologist Frédérique Tremblay from the Canadian Wildlife Service.