In January, the State Department of Environmental Conservation planned to eliminate mute swans in New York by 2025. As per the plan, mute swans would only be found in zoos, parks and other captive places.

The species was brought to the state from Europe in the 1800s, have threatened wetland habitats and native waterfowl. To eradicate the swans by the year 2025, destruction of their nests, puncturing of eggs and shooting the swans were considered to be the options. But the draft plan was opposed by a number of people.

More than 16,000 people sent letters to the conservation officials; more than 1,500 comments and more than 30,000 people signed a petition to support the swans. "We appreciate the strong response that the draft plan received, and it's clear that New Yorkers recognize the importance of a comprehensive mute swan management plan that balances the interests of a diversity of stakeholders", said DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens.

The authorities have now decided that some other methods will be used like oiling (and waxing) the swan eggs, so they do not hatch. Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz said the best thing is that officials have dropped the plans of slaughtering the swans of Sheepshead Bay.

The revised plans will be having different population goals for different parts of the state, said Martens. He further affirmed that the DEC will be asking for more public comments on the revised plans by later this spring.

As per the DEC, around 2,200 mute swans live in New York. Most of them are on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley and along Lake Ontario.