The Trumpeter Swan Fund :: Wyoming Wetlands Society

What is the Trumpeter Swan Fund?

The Fund is part of the Wyoming Wetlands Society, a nonprofit organization that formed in 1986. The main objective of the Trumpeter Swan Fund is to increase the number of birds released into the wild, through a captive-breeding program. In fact, 95-98% of all the swans raised through the program are released into the wild in cooperation with the various states. Although, mortality among released swans has been relatively high, which is normal for a captive-breeding program, the success of the program has been quite remarkable. Swans identified as part of the program have been reported from as far away as Grand Canyon National Park. This 700 mile annual migration comes full circle in the springtime, when the birds return to the Green River Corridor, outside the Pinedale area. One of the goals of the program is to establish long distance migration out of the tri-state wintering areas.

The flock of the Trumpeter Swan Fund is maintained on privately owned land and on a newly established County park in the Jackson Hole Valley. "There has been a great outpouring of support by landowners to allow us to use their land for breeding or as a base facility," said Long. "This support has been crucial to the success of the program." We're always looking for landowners who would be willing to host a breeding pair, provided adequate wetlands are present," said Long.

The greatest measure of success lies in the number of breeding pairs at the facility. Through a joint venture with the Confederation of Salish and Kootenai tribes of Montana, a significant number of swans were added to the program to increase the genetic diversity of the Wyoming flock. This has had a significant positive impact on the success of the release program, since survival of the species weighs heavily on the genetic variation of the population. Once the cygnets are ready for the wild, Long works with the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming to release the swans in areas where numbers need to be increased.
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Contributors and Sponsors

This little known nonprofit operates on a minimal budget which is raised through private donations, USFWS, and state contributions. Much of the daily maintenance work for the swan program is accomplished through volunteer support, with contract employees caring for the swans through the summer season. —BACK TO THE TOP